Partner
Jonathan A. Dhanawade
Private Equity, Mergers & Acquisitions
Overview
Jonathan A. Dhanawade is a trusted advisor to private equity firms, their portfolio companies, sovereign and sovereign-backed investors in the Middle East and North America, and other publicly and privately held companies, including venture-backed companies. He concentrates his practice on structuring, negotiating and executing domestic and international mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, leveraged buyouts, going-private transactions, carve-out transactions, equity investments at all levels of the capital structure (including co-investments, preferred equity investments, PIPEs and growth equity investments), joint ventures, recapitalizations, out-of-court restructurings, and secondary transactions. Jonathan also provides strategic counsel on a range of general corporate matters, including corporate governance, executive compensation and incentive equity arrangements.
Experience
Represented
- Builder Circle in financing and equity-related matters
- Marlin Equity Partners and Marcura in Marcura’s acquisition of Brightwell Navigator, the maritime crew payroll and payment services division of Brightwell
- A real estate lender in connection with a strategic partnership with a technology and financial services company that involved the issuance of preferred equity interests
- Kayne Anderson BDC, Inc. in its investment in SG Credit Partners, Inc
- BC Partners in connection with preferred equity investments
- An Abu Dhabi-based sovereign-backed investor in a strategic co-investment into a large, U.S.-based asset manager
- A family-owned, East Coast business in the sale of a minority position to a Dutch conglomerate in the transportation sector
- A youth sports-focused startup in general corporate governance and fundraising-related matters
- Bayview Asset Management in connection with multiple preferred equity investments
- Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) in connection with preferred equity investments and strategic co-investments
- A leading infrastructure asset manager in the formation of a strategic joint venture with an airline carrier
- A leading middle-market private equity firm in its acquisition of a controlling stake in a multinational business that is a global leader in ultrahigh-pressure process solutions
- A leading fire and life safety business in several add-on transactions that expanded its footprint across the Midwest
- H.I.G. Capital in its investment in Ascension Property Services
- Madison Industries in a strategic joint venture
Recognition
- 2026 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America (Mergers and Acquisitions).
- 2025 Illinois Rising Star – Super Lawyers
Education
- Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, JD
Editor-in-Chief, Northwestern Journal of International Law and Business; Teaching Assistant, Negotiations
- University of Delaware, BA
University of Delaware Honors Program; Founder and President, University of Delaware Rotary Club
Admissions
- Illinois
- New York
Professional & Community Involvement
- Member, Board of Directors of VOCEL
- Member, Chicago Board of Directors of Susan G. Komen
- Mentor, 1871
- Mentor, mHUB
- Mentor, Techstars