Law360: O’Melveny Snags McDermott Private Equity Specialist

Private equity specialist Ike Chidi is joining O’Melveny as a partner in the firm’s Century City office. Chidi specializes in structuring and negotiating financial transactions and has extensive experience advising health care companies and technology and consumer products companies. “[O’Melveny] has a long-standing reputation here in Los Angeles,” Chidi said. “The private equity practice is booming, and the firm has a well-established practice throughout California and particularly here in Southern California.” Chidi, the firm’s 14th corporate lateral partner hire this year, will work closely with O’Melveny partner David Smith who handles mergers & acquisitions. “Ike has an outstanding personality. He has great experience,” Smith said. “I think he saw the potential here and what we’ve been doing in the course of the last four years since my group arrived.” C. Brophy Christensen, co-chair of O’Melveny’s corporate department, said that Chidi’s “expertise in the full range of private equity financings will greatly assist our sponsor clients and their portfolio companies in making deals and pursuing all types of opportunities in a fast-paced and competitive environment.”

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