Key Takeaways
- • Sidley Austin LLP hired Ryan McNish as a partner in its Investment Funds practice in Chicago, with the announcement dated October 5, 2026.
- • McNish joins from Kirkland & Ellis, where he was a partner in the Investment Funds Practice Group, and advises private equity sponsors on fund formation and governance.
- • Sidley described the hire as support for its continued investment in private equity and private capital, with Chair Brian Fahrney calling expansion of private equity fund formation capabilities a "key strategic priority."
- • The hire is the latest in a series of Investment Funds partner additions across Chicago, Houston, New York, London, Boston, and Palo Alto over the past two years.
- • Sidley's Investment Funds practice comprises approximately 150 corporate, securities, and derivatives lawyers working on investment funds, investment management, and derivatives matters worldwide.
Summary
Sidley Austin LLP has added Ryan McNish as a partner in its Investment Funds practice in Chicago, according to the firm's announcement. McNish previously served as a partner in the Investment Funds Practice Group at Kirkland & Ellis. The firm announced the hire on Monday, October 5, 2026.
McNish's practice centers on structuring, negotiating, and forming private investment funds. He advises clients on general partner and management company structures, governance, organizational matters, and related structuring issues. He works with private equity sponsors across a range of investment strategies, and his experience includes both open-end and closed-end fund formations as well as sophisticated fundraising matters.
Sidley framed the appointment as part of its ongoing commitment to private equity and private capital. Brian Fahrney, Chair of Sidley's Executive Committee, said that "expanding our private equity fund formation capabilities remains a key strategic priority, and Ryan's experience advising leading private funds further strengthens our ability to serve clients across the private capital market spectrum." Chris Abbinante, Co-Managing Partner of Sidley's Chicago office, said McNish "has built an impressive practice advising sponsors on sophisticated fund formation, governance, and organizational matters across a wide range of investment strategies."
The McNish hire follows multiple Investment Funds partner additions across Chicago, Houston, New York, London, Boston, and Palo Alto during the past two years. Sidley's Investment Funds practice includes approximately 150 corporate, securities, and derivatives lawyers handling investment funds, investment management, and derivatives matters globally.
McNish's practice centers on structuring, negotiating, and forming private investment funds. He advises clients on general partner and management company structures, governance, organizational matters, and related structuring issues. He works with private equity sponsors across a range of investment strategies, and his experience includes both open-end and closed-end fund formations as well as sophisticated fundraising matters.
Sidley framed the appointment as part of its ongoing commitment to private equity and private capital. Brian Fahrney, Chair of Sidley's Executive Committee, said that "expanding our private equity fund formation capabilities remains a key strategic priority, and Ryan's experience advising leading private funds further strengthens our ability to serve clients across the private capital market spectrum." Chris Abbinante, Co-Managing Partner of Sidley's Chicago office, said McNish "has built an impressive practice advising sponsors on sophisticated fund formation, governance, and organizational matters across a wide range of investment strategies."
The McNish hire follows multiple Investment Funds partner additions across Chicago, Houston, New York, London, Boston, and Palo Alto during the past two years. Sidley's Investment Funds practice includes approximately 150 corporate, securities, and derivatives lawyers handling investment funds, investment management, and derivatives matters globally.
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