Partner
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Brian Kerwin is Chairman of Duane Morris' Corporate Practice Group, a member of the firm’s Executive Committee and a member of the firm’s national governing Partners Board. The Corporate Practice Group consists of 200 plus attorneys in 16 offices. Brian has extensive experience representing business entities, lenders, private equity funds and entrepreneurs in various business and financing transactions, including the buying and selling of companies, acquisition financings, syndicated secured loan transactions, asset-based financings, venture debt financings, capital raises, fund formations and equity investments. Brian prides himself on delivering high quality legal work, efficiently and responsively. Brian was selected to Lawdragon's prestigious “500 Leading Dealmakers in America” for both 2024 and 2025. Brian was rated as "Highly Regarded" for Banking and Finance work by IFLR1000 for six consecutive years (2019-2024). For eleven consecutive years (2013-2024), Brian has been included in Best Lawyers in America for Corporate Law. For twelve consecutive years (2006-2017), Brian was selected for inclusion in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business directory (for Corporate/M&A: Private Equity). Chambers highlighted: “The ‘superb’ Brian Kerwin of Duane Morris LLP enjoys a solid reputation for his extensive experience in corporate and private equity matters, often counseling clients on financings, acquisitions and fund formation.” Brian was further described as having “a flair for complex transactions,” an “energy and tact” that appeals to “a hugely loyal clientele,” and someone who is “responsive and gets the deal done.” For fourteen consecutive years (2005-2018), Brian was selected as a Leading Lawyer in the State of Illinois in both Mergers & Acquisitions and Corporate Finance Law. For fifteen consecutive years (2005-2020), Brian was selected as a Super Lawyer in both Mergers & Acquisitions and Banking & Financial in a guide published by Law & Politics that distinguishes the top 5 percent of Illinois lawyers. In 2004, Chicago Lawyer selected Brian out of over 1,200 nominees to be included in its "40 Illinois Attorneys Under Forty to Watch." Brian earned his B.A. from the University of Michigan, magna cum laude with honors in history, and received his law degree, with honors, from the George Washington University National Law Center in Washington, D.C., where he was a member of the Law Review. He also received a Masters of Intellectual Property Law from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law. Brian was featured in a cover story in Mergers & Acquisitions magazine. He was featured in a three-page article entitled “The Deal Guy” in Leading Lawyers Magazine – Business Edition. Brian was extensively quoted in an article in The American Lawyer regarding Middle Market mergers and acquisitions. In addition, Brian was featured in an article in Counsel to Counsel magazine, and was profiled in a three-page article by the University of Michigan in its alumni publication. Brian has also been extensively quoted in the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin as an experienced attorney in representing sellers and buyers of companies. Brian is a former member of the Board of Directors of the Association of Corporate Growth (ACG), Chicago Chapter; the Board of Directors of Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Foundation Board; the Board of Trustees of the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum; and the Corporate Advisory Board of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Brian received the National Multiple Sclerosis Society - Greater Illinois Chapter Leadership Class of 2002 Award, which recognizes “Outstanding Professional Achievement and Community Leadership.” Brian is also a past director and executive vice president of the Illinois Young Executives Club. Brian has led more than 750 financing transactions and over 175 company sale/purchase transactions. His clients have been located across the United States and have been involved in a myriad of businesses, including manufacturing, distribution, fintech, banking, healthcare, education, defense/military, fashion/retail, plastics, packaging, food and beverage, nutrition, pharmaceutical, technology, transportation logistics, automotive, lodging, gaming, home improvement, outsourcing and human resources, safety/test engineering and product safety, software, telecommunications, home and lawn care, investment management, private equity, among others. Brian represents a number of lenders in acquisition financings for portfolio companies of various national private equity funds, including CIBC Bank USA; Byline Bank; Huntington National Bank; Old National Bank (and its predecessor First Midwest Bank); Fifth Third Bank (and its predecessor MB Financial); Wintrust Financial; Western Alliance Bank (and Bridge Bank); Webster Bank (and its predecessor Sterling National Bank); HTLF (Heartland Financial USA, Inc.); First Financial Bank; BMO Bank, N.A.; Monroe Capital; Accord/CapX Partners; Old Second National Bank; and The Northern Trust Company.
