Lauren Cates advises public and private companies, private equity firms and investors on executive compensation and employee benefits matters in connection with mergers and acquisitions, carve-outs, strategic investments and other significant corporate transactions. She counsels clients on the compensation and benefits aspects of complex transactions, as well as the structuring and implementation of executive compensation, equity incentive and employment arrangements.
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Work Highlights
Notable experience prior to joining Simpson Thacher includes advising:
- Six Flags Entertainment Corporation in its $8 billion merger of equals with Cedar Fair
- Montagu and Kohlberg, two leading middle-market private equity firms, in a $1.5 billion carve-out acquisition of Teleflex Medical OEM from Teleflex Incorporated
- Investment funds advised by Apax Partners in their $100 million investment in RapidSOS
- GTCR in its acquisition of ADT’s commercial fire and security segment from ADT Inc.
- KKR in its significant equity investment in public accounting and consulting firm Crowe Advisory
Accolades
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Best Lawyers, “Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch – Tax Law,” 2021-2026
Education
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Northwestern University, Pritzker School of Law, 2019 LL.M.
with Honors
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Washington University in St. Louis, 2015 J.D.
Sources Editor, Washington University Journal of Law and Policy
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Washington University in St. Louis, 2015 M.B.A.
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Washington University in St. Louis, 2010 B.S.B.A.
Clerkships
- Judicial Intern, Honorable G. Patrick Murphy, United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, 2012
Admissions
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Missouri 2016
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Illinois 2015
Lauren Cates is a Partner in the Firm’s Executive Compensation and Employee Benefits Practice. Based in Chicago, she advises public and private companies, private equity firms and investors on executive compensation and employee benefits matters in connection with mergers and acquisitions, carve-outs, strategic investments and other significant corporate transactions. She counsels clients on the compensation and benefits aspects of complex transactions, as well as the structuring and implementation of executive compensation, equity incentive and employment arrangements.
Notable experience prior to joining Simpson Thacher includes advising:
- Six Flags Entertainment Corporation in its $8 billion merger of equals with Cedar Fair
- Montagu and Kohlberg, two leading middle-market private equity firms, in a $1.5 billion carve-out acquisition of Teleflex Medical OEM from Teleflex Incorporated
- Investment funds advised by Apax Partners in their $100 million investment in RapidSOS
- Apax Digital Funds in its strategic investment in IANS Research
- Apax Digital Funds in its investment in Inspectorio, Inc.
- EIV Capital in its equity commitment to Intensity Infrastructure Partners
- Finastra in the sale of its U.S. Mid-Market banking business, which includes core banking, digital banking and related businesses, to CORA Group
- GTCR in its acquisition of ADT’s commercial fire and security segment from ADT Inc.
- KKR in its significant equity investment in public accounting and consulting firm Crowe Advisory
- An L Catterton-led consortium in its acquisition of Truck Hero, Inc.
Lauren received her LL.M. in Taxation, with Honors, from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law in 2019, her J.D. and M.B.A. from Washington University in St. Louis in 2015, where she was Sources Editor for the Washington University Journal of Law and Policy, and her B.S.B.A. from Washington University in St. Louis in 2010. She is admitted to practice in Illinois and Missouri.