Chicago Partners Named Notable Women in Law by Crain’s Chicago Business

Crain’s Chicago Business (Crain’s) has named Chicago partners Laura Ferrell, Robin Hulshizer, and Cindy Caillavet Sinclair to its 2024 Notable Women in Law list. The annual list honors women in the legal profession for their professional achievements and dedication to civic, philanthropic, and mentoring activities.

Laura Ferrell, a partner in Latham’s Investment Funds Practice, advises a broad cross-section of the asset management industry on a variety of complex legal, regulatory, and compliance matters, particularly counseling private fund sponsors through SEC examination and enforcement inquiries as well as asset management M&A transactions. She has extensive experience guiding clients through the increasingly complex regulatory environment, including advising The Special Committee of the Board of Directors of Sculptor Capital Management on its nearly US$720 million acquisition by Rithm Capital Corp., Ares Management Corporation on the acquisition by certain funds managed by its Alternative Credit strategy of a US$3.5 billion specialty finance loan portfolio from PacWest Bancorp, and New Heritage Capital on the formation of its US$438 million fourth fund. Laura is also a highly regarded thought leader, authoring numerous articles on regulatory and compliance topics. Outside of her work at Latham, Laura serves as a court appointed Guardian Ad Litem, representing children in situations where guardianship issues are disputed.

Robin Hulshizer, a partner in Latham’s Litigation & Trial Department, is a seasoned trial lawyer with more than three decades of experience focusing on complex commercial and environmental litigation. She represents several Fortune 100 companies, including a two-decade-long relationship with Illinois-based Navistar, Inc., which she has guided through SEC investigations, securities lawsuits, and derivative actions arising out of alleged misstatements regarding its mobile source emission strategy, including complex and highly technical analysis of engine certification applications, testing requirements, and diesel engine programs. Robin has been widely recognized for the impact of her pro bono work, and was among a Latham team honored by the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law for their pro bono federal impact class action case advocating for the education rights of disabled children in West Virginia. Outside of Latham, she is passionate about various child related initiatives, serving for over ten years on the board of The REACH Institute, a nonprofit organization dedicated to developing methods for addressing the mental health needs of children, and helping Chair the Chicago Do The Write Thing Program, an initiative of the National Campaign to Stop Violence aimed at middle school students.

Cindy Caillavet Sinclair, a partner in Latham’s Banking Practice, represents borrowers, private equity firms, and commercial and investment banks in leveraged finance transactions, including: acquisition financings, large cap and middle market cash flow and asset-based lending facilities, reserve-based lending facilities, and debtor-in-possession facilities and exit facilities. She has helped navigate clients through challenging market conditions, including advising Hyatt on its US$2.7 billion acquisition of Apple Leisure Group and Webhelp in its US$4.8 billion merger with Concentrix Corporation. Cindy has served on Latham’s Women Enriching Business (WEB) Committee and is an active member of the firm’s Women Lawyers Group, Parent Lawyers Group, and mentoring program. She also maintains a robust pro bono practice, including in recent years representing Lawndale Educational and Regional Network (LEARN) Charter School, an Illinois nonprofit, in connection with its issuance of tax-exempt revenue bonds on a pro bono basis, and participates in a Northwestern Law alumni student mentorship program that connects practicing lawyers with first year law students.