Linda Harris

Ms. Harris is a partner who specializes in mergers and acquisitions. She is highly experienced in representing publicly held corporations, institutional investors and privately held companies. In addition, her work includes extensive experience in corporate finance, bankruptcy, work outs and restructurings; franchising; and general counseling. Ms. Harris served as chairperson of Sonnenschein’s Corporate & Securities practice group from 1988 – 1998.

Representative Experience In the area of mergers and acquisitions, private equity transactions, joint ventures, leveraged buy-outs, and venture capital, Ms. Harris has represented institutions, such as Equitable Life Assurance Society, Prudential Insurance and GE Credit Corporation and Fortune 100 Companies including Sara Lee Corporation. Her transactions involve both domestic and non-U.S. properties and parties. Ms. Harris has significant experience in the airline industry due to her role as general outside counsel for a Midwest commuter airline prior to its sale to American Airlines, and her role as corporate counsel to the Official Unsecured Creditors’ Committee in the United Airlines bankruptcy. Ms. Harris’ work for privately-held companies has included serving as the outside general counsel for several family-owned businesses, including The Chas. Levy Company — one of the largest book distributors in the country (and one of the largest women-owned and women managed businesses in the country). She also regularly serves as special M&A counsel for large international and domestic privately owned companies. Her work for corporate clients ranges from acquisitions to providing on- going counseling in all areas of business, including shareholder relations and liquidity. Ms. Harris has provided corporate counseling and performed corporate transactions for clients in such diverse industries as airline, telecommunications, e-commerce, manufacturing, distribution, retailing, professional services (including medicine, dentistry, management consulting and public relations), and healthcare facilities, to name a few.

Organizations Ms. Harris serves as a director of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, The Joffrey Ballet of Chicago, the Anti Defamation League, the Women’s Business Development Center and the Women’s Issues Network (where she served as president from 1994 1995). She is also a member of The Economic Club, The Chicago Network, and the Chicago Finance Exchange. Ms. Harris is a major supporter of entrepreneurs and early stage businesses, including women-owned businesses, both through her professional, philanthropic and other outside activities. She was a founding member of and lecturer to the Capital Circle, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to increasing the flow of capital to venture capital businesses. She also is a frequent speaker at the Entrepreneurial Conference of the Women’s Business Development Center. Ms. Harris is a recipient of the Anti-Defamation League’s 1999 Women of Achievement Award.