Bio

Dan Clivner is a member of Sidley’s Executive Committee and the managing partner of the greater Los Angeles offices. He is a global co-leader of the firm’s M&A and Private Equity group. Dan handles high-profile transactional matters for clients in the media and entertainment, telecom, technology, financial services, and retail industries. He has extensive experience advising both domestic and international private equity and corporate clients on a variety of matters related to M&A, corporate governance, and securities law matters such as leveraged buyouts, joint ventures, public company acquisitions, and restructurings. Dan also advises boards, management, special committees, and investment banking firms on domestic and international corporate transactions. Prior to joining Sidley, Dan served as managing partner of the Los Angeles office of an international law firm. In 1996, he relocated to Los Angeles from New York to advise The Seagram Company and NBC Universal (formerly Universal Studios) in connection with numerous television, theme park, motion picture and music acquisition, disposition and financing transactions, including the acquisition of Polygram N.V., the sale of USA Networks, and PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Seagram’s merger with Vivendi SA. The Los Angeles Business Journal recognized Dan in its “Top 100 Lawyers” list (2022–2023) and further honored him with the “Champion of Diversity” award (2022). He was also named to its “Leaders of Influence: Private Equity Investors & Advisors” list (2020–2023). St. John’s University School of Law honored Dan with its 2022 “Honorable John E. Sprizzo Award,” presented to noteworthy alumni for their contributions to the law and their communities. Minority Corporate Counsel Association selected Dan as a 2019 “Rainmaker” and named him to its annual list honoring diverse lawyers for their business acumen, passion, and dedication to proactive client development. He was recognized as the 2016 “Corporate Lawyer of the Year” by the Century City Bar Association and Law360 named him an “MVP” for private equity in 2016. Dan earned his J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law where he was editor of the St. John’s Law Review and he received his B.B.A. in finance and economics, with honors, from Baruch College.