
Brett J. Rodda
Biography
Brett Rodda is a partner in the Transactional Practice Group. Brett advises both private equity funds and strategics in connection with acquisitions, dispositions, mergers and investments. He also advises public companies and their boards on important corporate governance and disclosure issues.
Previously, Brett served as general counsel of Silver Point Capital, LP, an investment adviser managing more than USD 11 billion in capital.
Practice Focus
Brett represents buyers and sellers in both public and private company transactions, including tender offers, one-step mergers, stock purchases and asset deals. He has also negotiated hundreds of debt and equity investments for private equity funds, family offices and other investors.
In 2023, Brett was recognized as a Dealmaker of the Year by 'The American Lawyer' for representing Berkshire Hathaway in its USD 11.6 billion acquisition of Alleghany Corporation. He also led Powdr Corp.’s 2024 sale of the Killington and Pico Mountain ski resorts in Vermont, which was recognized by 'Mergers & Acquisitions' as an honorable mention for Middle Market Deal of the Year. Brett was also named a Daily Journal Top Lawyer Under 40 for his work on Berkshire Hathaway’s USD 44 billion acquisition of Burlington Northern Santa Fe and the merger of the William Morris and Endeavor talent agencies in 2008.
Brett received his law degree from Stanford Law School, where he graduated Order of the Coif. He obtained a BA, summa cum laude, from George Washington University, where he majored in political communication. Prior to attending law school, he was a radio reporter based at the NASDAQ Stock Market.
Representative Legal Matters
- Beats Music and Beats Electronics in the companies’ USD 3 billion acquisition by Apple.
- BDT&MSD Partners in numerous transactions, including its investments in Peet’s Coffee & Tea, Keurig Dr. Pepper, Colfax Corporation, Pret Panera and GoodLeap.
- Berkshire Hathaway in more than a dozen public company acquisitions, including its USD 44 billion acquisition of Burlington Northern Santa Fe, its USD 37 billion acquisition of Precision Castparts and its USD 11 billion purchase of Alleghany Corporation.
- C & B Enterprises, a leading John Deere dealership group, in its sale to Point Field Partners.
- Aircraft parts manufacturer California Amforge in its sale to Wynnchurch Capital.
- Infrastructure support company Cotton Holdings in its sale to Sun Capital.
- Econic Partners in the creation of a new economic consulting firm backed by Goldman Sachs.
- First Beverage Group in the acquisition of Health-Ade Kombucha.
- KB Home in the acquisition of several family-owned homebuilding companies.
- Nexus Capital Management in its acquisitions of the FTD florist network, Lamps Plus, MAV Beauty Brands, HDT Global and Sky Organics, as well as its investments in Resident and MediaLab, and in the merger of Natural Balance Pet Foods with Canidae Pet Foods.
- California-based retailer 99 Cents Only Stores in its USD 1.6 billion sale to Ares Management and CPPIB.
- Power Corp. in the sale of its Killington and Pico Mountain ski resorts to a New England-based investor group.
- Sperber Landscape Companies in the roll-up of 17 privately held landscaping companies across the US.
Professional Honors
- American Lawyer Dealmaker of the Year 2023
- Top Lawyer Under 40, Daily Journal 2008
Admissions
- District of Columbia~United States
- California~United States
Education
- Stanford Law School (JD, Order of the Coif, Associate editor, Stanford Law Review) (1999)
- George Washington University (BA, summa cum laude with special honors, Phi Beta Kappa) (1995)