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Rachel Cohen-Deaño focuses her practice on forming private equity, distressed debt, venture capital and special strategy investment funds, and structuring and negotiating complex corporate transactions. In addition, she represents a broad range of clients in connection with investments in private funds. Rachel also has experience advising clients on mergers and acquisitions and general corporate matters.

Concentrations

  • Private equity fund formation
  • Representation of investors in private investment funds
  • Leveraged acquisitions
  • Divestitures
  • General corporate matters

Capabilities

Experience

  • Represented $3 billion distressed debt private equity fund in connection with its formation, offering and ongoing general corporate representation.
  • Represented $2.75 billion middle market private equity fund in connection with its formation and offering.
  • Represented $1.6 billion middle market private equity fund in connection with its formation, offering and ongoing general corporate representation.
  • Represented $1.3 billion European distressed debt fund in connection with its formation, offering and ongoing general corporate representation.
  • Represented $1.275 billion internal multi-strategy fund of funds in connection with its formation and offering.
  • Represented $1.25 billion lower middle market private equity fund in connection with its formation and offering.
  • Represented $1 billion direct lending fund in connection with its formation, offering and ongoing general corporate representation.
  • Represented $1 billion distressed debt fund in connection with its formation, offering and ongoing general corporate representation.
  • Represented $1 billion private equity fund in connection with its formation and offering.
  • Represented ~$1 billion lower middle market private equity fund in connection with its formation, offering and ongoing general corporate representation as well as co-investment offerings for investments alongside the fund.
  • Represented $685 million private equity fund with a focus on investments in Brazil and Latin America in connection with its formation and offering.
  • Represented $580 million lower middle market private equity fund in connection with its formation and offering.
  • Represented $500 million lower middle market private equity fund in connection with its formation, offering and ongoing general corporate representation.
  • Represented $410 million private equity fund with a focus on minority or non-control investments in connection with its formation and offering.
  • Represented $400 million middle market private equity fund in connection with its formation, offering and ongoing general corporate representation.
  • Represented $400 million secondary investment middle market private equity fund in connection with its formation and offering.
  • Represented $350 million private equity fund with a focus on financial services companies in connection with its formation and offering.
  • Represented $250 million biotech venture capital fund in connection with its formation, offering and ongoing general corporate representation.
  • Represented $218 million minority investment fund in connection with its formation and offering.
  • Represented $215 million growth equity fund in connection with its formation, offering and ongoing general corporate representation.
  • Represented $215 million private equity fund with a focus on investments in the lower middle market in connection with its formation and offering.
  • Represented $175 million middle market private equity fund in connection with its formation, offering and ongoing general corporate representation.
  • Represented $175 million lower middle market private equity fund in connection with its formation and offering.
  • Represented $150 million private equity fund in connection with its formation, offering, formation and offering of related co-investment vehicles and ongoing corporate representation.
  • Represented $145 million lower middle market private equity fund in connection with its formation, offering and ongoing general corporate representation, including co-investment offerings alongside the fund.
  • Represented $125 million middle market private equity fund in connection with its formation, offering and ongoing general corporate representation.
  • Represented $100 million lower middle market private equity fund of funds in connection with its formation, offering and ongoing general corporate representation.
  • Represented $100 million lower middle market private equity fund of funds in connection with its formation, offering, underlying fund investments and ongoing general corporate representation.
  • Represented $75 million lower middle market private equity fund of funds in connection with its formation, offering and ongoing general corporate representation.
  • Represented $56 million co-investment fund in connection with its formation, offering and ongoing general corporate representation.
  • Represented $40 million co-investment fund in connection with its formation, offering and ongoing general corporate representation.
  • Represented $20 million venture capital fund in connection with its formation, offering and ongoing corporate representation.
  • Represented real estate private equity fund in connection with fund formation and ongoing general corporate representation.
  • Represented movie production private equity fund in connection with fund formation and ongoing general corporate representation.
  • Represented urgent care medical practice management company in connection with private placement of minority interests and ongoing general corporate representation.
  • Represented venture capital fund with a focus on investments in healthy food and consumer products in connection with equity offering and ongoing general corporate representation.
  • Represented venture capital fund with a focus on investments in digital finance in connection with equity offering and ongoing general corporate representation.
  • Represented real estate tax portfolio private equity fund in connection with fund formation and offering.
  • Represented intellectual property private equity fund in connection with fund formation and offering.
  • Represented private equity fund in connection with the leveraged acquisition of post-production services company.
  • Representation of private equity fund in connection with the leveraged acquisition of several ambulatory surgical centers and related management company.
  • Represented private equity fund in connection with the leveraged acquisition of call centers located in the U.S., Panama and Jamaica.
  • Represented private equity fund in connection with the acquisition of distressed automotive parts manufacturer.
  • Represented private equity fund in connection with the leveraged acquisition of health care logistics company.
  • Represented private equity fund in connection with the leveraged acquisition of all of the stock of a U.S. lighting equipment rental company and substantially all of the assets of several Canadian lighting equipment rental companies.
  • Represented private equity fund in connection with the leveraged acquisition of an automotive parts manufacturer.
  • Represented portfolio company of a private equity fund in connection with the leveraged acquisition of seven mattress manufacturing companies and subsequent merger with mattress branding company.
  • Represented family investment company in its acquisition of two Canadian container and packaging companies and subsequent merger.
  • Represented private equity fund in its acquisition of a marketing and discount offer company.
  • Represented private equity fund in connection with the leveraged acquisition of all of the stock of a U.S. lighting equipment rental company and substantially all of the assets of several Canadian lighting equipment rental companies.
  • Represented privately held Israeli technology company in connection with the disposition of all its equity to a publicly traded company.
  • Represented molded plastics packaging company in connection with the disposition of all its equity to a wholly owned subsidiary of a publicly traded company.
  • Represented home health care and hospice care provider in connection with the disposition of all its equity.
  • Represented medical laboratory testing service provider in connection with sale of all its stock by merger to a portfolio company of a private equity fund.
  • Represented special event marketing company in connection with the disposition of all its stock to a publicly traded corporation.
  • Represented marketing company in connection with the disposition of all of its stock.
  • Represented industrial mineral producer in connection with the sale of a division to a subsidiary of a publicly traded corporation.
  • Represented privately held software company in connection with the sale of all of its stock to a publicly traded corporation.
  • Represented cable and wire manufacturer in connection with the sale of a majority of its stock to a private equity fund.
  • Represented beauty school in connection with the sale of a majority of its equity interests to a private equity fund.
  • Represented hardware manufacturing company in connection with the sale of all its stock to a privately held company.
  • Intern, Judge Blanche Manning, Northern District of Illinois, Summer 2003

Recognition & Leadership

  • Listed, Leading Lawyers Network, 2024
  • Listed, Super Lawyers magazine, Illinois Super Lawyers, "Rising Stars," 2012-2020
  • Listed, Super Lawyers magazine, New York Metro Super Lawyers, "Rising Stars," 2014-2016

Credentials

Education
  • J.D., magna cum laude, University of Illinois College of Law
    • Harno Scholar
    • CALI award for excellence in Tax Exempt Organizations
    • Study Abroad at Bucerius Law School, Hamburg, Germany
  • B.B.A., University of Wisconsin-Madison
Admissions
  • Illinois
  • New York
  • Wisconsin