Randy A. Bridgeman
- Firmwide Chair, Food & Beverage Industry Group
An authority in the food and beverage industry, Randy represents businesses and their owners in sale transactions, acquisitions, strategic partnerships, and general corporate matters.
In his more than 30 years in practice, Randy has advised owners of privately held and family-owned businesses through the entirety of the sale process. He counsels on presale preparations, sale strategy, tax planning and structuring, post-sale employment and equity holdings, and family succession, in addition to leading the transaction execution. Randy often serves as clients’ primary outside counsel, quarterbacking their legal matters and use of firm legal resources.
Randy’s food and beverage representations have included serving as the primary outside counsel to a multinational food ingredient manufacturer for more than two decades. He also represents several emerging and growth-stage food companies, acting as primary outside counsel to a leading nondairy milk manufacturer and retail brand.
Randy also represents companies with domestic and overseas operations in such industries as gaming, transportation, industrial manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, waste management, and professional services. He regularly guides management teams in strategic transactions, counseling them on equity liquidation, executive employment, and incentive equity matters. He also counsels companies in bet-the-company litigation challenges.
The current chair of the board of directors of the Chicagoland Food and Beverage Network, Randy is recognized for his leadership, knowledge, and experience in the industry.
Areas of focus
Industries
Services
Education & Credentials
Education
- University of Michigan Law School, J.D., 1992
- University of Notre Dame, B.A., with honors, 1989
Bar and Court Admissions
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Illinois
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Michigan
Related Employment
- K&L Gates LLP (formerly Bell, Boyd & Lloyd LLP), Chicago, IL, Partner (Chairman of Chicago Corporate Practice)
Professional Recognition
Finalist for the “Food & Beverage Dealmaker of the Year” category in The Deal Awards Middle Market, 2019
Selected for Inclusion in Crain’s Chicago Business' Notable Gen X Leaders in Law, 2019
*The Supreme Court of Illinois does not recognize certifications of specialties in the practice of law and no certificate, award or recognition is a requirement to practice law in Illinois.
Impact
Professional Leadership
- Chicagoland Food and Beverage Network, Board Chairman
- Chicago Bar Association, Mergers and Acquisitions Subcommittee, Former Chairman
- Chicago Bar Association, Corporation and Business Law Committee, Former Chairman
Insights
Professional Experience
Experience
Some of Randy’s notable engagements include the following:
- Guiding fourth-generation family members in the sale of their 135-year-old food additive business.
- Representing a nondiary milk manufacturer in its two-stage $345 million Series E funding round and the related redemption of its founding investor.
- Representing a multinational food manufacturer in corporate venture investments in the alternative ingredients sector.
- Serving as longtime outside general counsel to a privately held food manufacturer with multinational operations, advising on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, commercial contracts, trade regulations, executive compensation, and strategic litigation.
- Representing a family-owned multistate transportation services company in its sale to a private equity fund.
- Representing a multi-national lottery management and technology company in its sale to a private equity fund.
- Representing a family-owned industrial services company in its sale to a private equity fund.
- Representing the management team of a pharmaceutical services business in its $650 million sale to a publicly held acquirer.
- Counseling emerging food and beverage brands in capital raising, including early-stage beverage alcohol brands.
- Managing a series of cross-border and joint-venture transactions for a multinational food ingredient company.
- Representing a global manufacturer in the structuring, negotiation, and formation of a series of joint ventures with co-manufacturers in Australia, South Africa, and Indonesia to expand the client’s supply chain and solidify the client’s international capabilities with respect to its global customers.
- Representing a beverage alcohol distiller in its acquisition of the assets comprising various spirits brands.
- Representing an employee-owned specialty engineering firm in its merger with a strategic competitor.
- Serving as acquisition counsel for a fast-growing transportation services company.
- Serving as client liaison and contributing to case management and strategy formation in a material litigation matter.
- Representing a multinational lottery operator, technology, and professional services provider, in the preparation and submission of a response to an RFP issued by the State of Illinois for the private management of its lottery and leading the drafting and negotiation of the private management agreement governing the relationship.
- Counseling various clients in complex commercial contracting arrangements involving supply, distribution, co-manufacturing, bottling, and equipment procurement, particularly in the food and beverage industry.
- Advising a Japanese-owned joint-venture equipment manufacturer in a series of strategic acquisitions of an independent dealership.
- Representing a range of public and privately held companies in strategic acquisitions and divestitures in various industries, including:
- Privately held mortgage services firm in its sale to a private equity fund in an approximately $200 million leveraged buy-out.
- Publicly held mining company in the sale of its industrial minerals division to a strategic acquirer for approximately $80 million.
- Privately held food manufacturer in the sale-related services division to a strategic acquirer for more than $100 million.
- Armored car services company in its sale to a strategic competitor for approximately $25 million.
- Publicly held paper products company in its acquisition of a publicly held office products retailer for approximately $1.5 billion.
- National, privately held staffing company in its sale to a private equity firm in an approximately $130 million leveraged buy-out.
- Multinational pharmaceutical company in the sale of its cardiac division to another strategic pharmaceutical business for approximately $100 million.