The Sidley Podcast

Airlines have hit their share of turbulence, from supply chain issues and staffing shortages to the Russia-Ukraine conflict and elevated fuel prices. As interest rates rise and some airlines file for bankruptcy, the industry’s carbon emissions efforts are getting off the ground. 

Join The Sidley Podcast host and Sidley partner, Sam Gandhi, as he speaks with three of the firm’s thought leaders on the airline industry — Bart Biggers, Michael Burke, and Kevin Lewis. Bart and Kevin are co-leaders of Sidley’s Aviation and Airlines practice, and Michael is a partner in the firm’s Restructuring practice. Together, they discuss the current state of affairs in air travel, emerging trends in the industry, and legal considerations regarding the bankruptcies taking place.

Executive Producer: John Metaxas, WallStreetNorth Communications, Inc.

Bank failures have roiled the financial sector, leading consumers and businesses to brace for economic fallout. How did we get here, and how will policymakers respond? What are the tools businesses can use to mitigate risk, and could a crisis like 2008 be repeated?

Join The Sidley Podcast host and Sidley partner, Sam Gandhi, as he speaks with two of the firm’s thought leaders on the financial industry — Michael D. Lewis and Teresa Wilton Harmon. Together, they discuss just how steady the banking system is and whether regulators can make it any safer. 

Michael represents financial institutions, their investors, and their counterparties in connection with federal and state banking laws. His experience includes advising on complex investment authority and regulatory structure questions, prudential regulation of banking organizations, and bank resolution and receivership issues. 

Teresa is the managing partner of Sidley’s Chicago office and focuses on financial transactions and commercial law. Her financial transactions experience includes secured and unsecured loans, workouts and restructurings, and structured finance and securitization. 

Executive Producer: John Metaxas, WallStreetNorth Communications, Inc.

After a contentious State of the Union Address, President Joe Biden faces off against a divided United States Congress over the debt ceiling. The business world is paying very close attention. Will Speaker Kevin McCarthy be able to corral his slim House majority? Are any compromises possible, and can any legislation actually pass? Join The Sidley Podcast host and Sidley partner, Sam Gandhi, as he speaks with three of the firm’s thought leaders on Congress — Michael Borden, Pattie DeLoatche, and Brittany Bolen. Together, they discuss congressional priorities for 2023 and the potential impact on businesses.

Michael is a partner in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office and leads the Government Strategies practice. He offers counsel to clients facing complex and high-stakes challenges involving congressional investigations, legislation and government regulation.

Pattie is a senior policy advisor in Sidley’s Washington, D.C. office and a member of the Government Strategies practice. She provides strategic advice to the firm’s clients on legislative and regulatory issues before the administration, the U.S. Congress and federal and state agencies.

Brittany is counsel in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office and a member of the Environmental and Government Strategies practices. She advises clients on a wide range of environmental regulatory and policy matters across the executive branch and on Capitol Hill.

Executive Producer: John Metaxas, WallStreetNorth Communications, Inc.

It’s time to play ball, both on the field and off. As this year’s pro football season culminates with the big game, the business of sports is booming. More teams are for sale, buyers are lining up, and valuations are through the roof. Join The Sidley Podcast host and Sidley partner, Sam Gandhi, as he speaks with two of the firm’s thought leaders on the sports industry — Charles Baker and Irwin Raij. They discuss the acquisition of sports teams and their media assets, the lure for investors, and emerging trends in the industry.  

Chuck is a partner in the firm’s New York and Miami offices and co-chair of Sidley’s Entertainment, Sports and Media team. He represents investors in professional sports businesses and teams and advises on sports entertainment transactions. With decades of experience in the industry, Chuck has represented sports franchise investors across numerous U.S. and international leagues.

Irwin is a partner in the firm’s Miami office and co-chair of Sidley’s Entertainment, Sports and Media team. He focuses his practice on the business of sports, including team acquisitions and sales, stadium and sports-anchored development, and media. This includes having handled matters involving the European soccer leagues, Major League Soccer, Major and Minor League Baseball, the National Basketball Association, colleges and universities, and the National Football League, among many others. 

Executive Producer: John Metaxas, WallStreetNorth Communications, Inc.

This could be the most controversial United States Supreme Court term ever. After overturning Roe v. Wade, the court now considers more profound change in election law, affirmative action, and other regulations affecting businesses. As SCOTUS welcomes a new justice, it faces questions over its own legitimacy and how far the conservative majority will go. Join The Sidley Podcast host and Sidley partner, Sam Gandhi, as he speaks with two of the firm’s experienced Supreme Court lawyers on these subjects — Carter Phillips and Kwaku Akowuah.

Carter is a partner in Sidley’s Supreme Court and Appellate practice. He `is one of the most experienced Supreme Court and appellate lawyers in the country. During his time with Sidley, Carter has argued 80 cases before the high court, more than any other lawyer in private practice. Prior to joining Sidley, Carter served as an Assistant to the Solicitor General. In that position, he argued nine cases before the Supreme Court on behalf of the U.S. government. In all, he has now made 89 oral arguments before the court and more than 145 before the U.S. Courts of Appeals.  
 
 Kwaku is a co-leader of the firm’s Supreme Court and Appellate practice. His work encompasses traditional appellate litigation, administrative law disputes, contract disputes, and pre-litigation counseling. Prior to joining Sidley, Kwaku served as a law clerk to Justice Stephen Breyer of the U.S. Supreme Court.

Executive Producer: John Metaxas, WallStreetNorth Communications, Inc.

It’s a wake-up call for the cryptocurrency industry. Falling prices have created dangers — but also opportunities for market participants. How will investors, lenders, and the courts respond? What new laws could be imposed, and who will end up on top? 

Join The Sidley Podcast host and Sidley partner, Sam Gandhi, as he speaks with three of the firm’s thought leaders on these subjects — Teresa Wilton Harmon, Stephen Hessler, and Dennis Twomey.

Teresa is the managing partner of Sidley’s Chicago office, a member of the firm’s Executive Committee, and a partner in the firm’s Global Finance practice. She focuses on financial transactions and commercial law.

Steve is the global practice leader of Sidley’s Restructuring group. His practice encompasses representing debtors, creditors, and investors in corporate Chapter 11 cases, out-of-court restructurings, and acquisitions. 

Dennis is a partner in Sidley’s Restructuring group. He has more than 20 years of experience representing clients in complex corporate restructurings and bankruptcies. 

Executive Producer: John Metaxas, WallStreetNorth Communications, Inc.

The Supreme Court’s recent decision in West Virginia v. EPA clips the EPA’s ability to address climate change and may fundamentally alter the administrative authority of other federal agencies to tackle big problems.

As state and local governments find ways to fill the void, shareholders are demanding a response from Corporate America. How seismic is the ruling? Will it doom our efforts to address climate change? And what impact will the enactment of the Inflation Reduction Act have on the ruling? Join The Sidley Podcast host and Sidley partner, Sam Gandhi, as he speaks with two of the firm’s thought leaders on these subjects — Justin Savage and Simone Jones.

Executive Producer: John Metaxas, WallStreetNorth Communications, Inc.

Private fund managers and investors are on high alert as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) proposes an aggressive new regulatory agenda. Its new draft rules have been described as a “sea change” and are intended to enhance regulation and protect investors in private funds. But do those investors need or want this protection? What are the broader policy issues? And what should fund managers and investors plan for? Join host and Sidley partner, Sam Gandhi, as he speaks with two of the firm’s thought leaders on these subjects — Elizabeth Shea Fries and Stephen Cohen.

Liz is the managing partner of Sidley’s Boston office, global co-leader of the Investment Funds practice, and a member of the firm’s Executive Committee. She advises clients on a broad range of transactions, business and investment structures, and regulatory matters.  

Steve is the global practice leader of the firm’s Regulatory and Enforcement group and a member of Sidley’s Executive Committee. He advises clients on governmental and internal investigations, enforcement-related litigation, whistleblower complaints, cyber breaches, and regulatory and compliance issues, including those that involve private fund managers. 

Finance is finally catching up with the environmental movement. Green bonds, which are debt raised by companies whose proceeds are used for environmentally beneficial purposes, are all the rage. More of them are being sold than ever before. But not all green products are equal, and the politics and regulation are complex. Why are investors buying in? What are the compliance challenges, and what are the incentives for businesses? Join host and Sidley partner, Sam Gandhi, as he speaks with two of the firm’s thought leaders on these subjects — Benedetta Pacifico and Matt Feehily.

Benedetta is counsel in Sidley’s London office and a member of the firm’s Capital Markets practice. She founded Sidley’s ESG-focused cross-practice sustainable finance and ESG working group in Europe. Matt is a senior managing associate in Sidley’s London office and a member of the firm’s Banking and Financial Services practice. He is also a member of Sidley’s sustainable finance and ESG working group.

Executive Producer: John Metaxas, WallStreetNorth Communications, Inc.

New structures, new rules?  Delaware’s Chancery Court provides guidance on disclosure, conflicts, and risk allocation. We take a look at the latest Delaware rulings and what they say about SPAC directors' fiduciary duty, as well as COVID’s effect on M&A deals, and how corporations and boards can mitigate their liability. Join host and Sidley partner, Sam Gandhi, as he speaks with two of the firm’s thought leaders on these subjects — Jim Ducayet and Charlotte Newell.

Jim is a partner in Sidley’s office in Chicago and a co-head of the firm’s Securities and Shareholder Litigation practice. Charlotte is a partner in Sidley’s office in New York and a member of the firm’s Securities and Shareholder Litigation and Corporate Governance and Executive Compensation practices.