Brett J. Rodda

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.

Mr. Rodda also counsels public companies and boards in connection with M&A transactions, internal investigations, senior management transitions, activist investor situations, corporate governance matters and securities and disclosure issues.

In 2023, Mr. Rodda 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. Mr. Rodda 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.

Mr. Rodda 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.

• Represented Beats Music and Beats Electronics in the companies’ USD 3 billion acquisition by Apple.
• Represented BDT&MSD Partners in numerous acquisitions, including its investments in Peet’s Coffee & Tea, Sierra Nevada Corporation, Keurig Dr. Pepper, Colfax Corporation and GoodLeap.
• Represented 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.
• Represented Aircraft parts manufacturer California Amforge in its sale to Wynnchurch Capital.
• Represented infrastructure support company Cotton Holdings in its sale to Sun Capital.
• Represented Edison International in the sale of several power plants, its equity fundraising efforts, and its general corporate governance and securities needs.
• Represented First Beverage Group in the acquisition of Health-Ade Kombucha.
• Represented KB Home in the acquisition of several family-owned homebuilding companies and in providing general corporate governance and securities advice.
• Represented 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.
• Represented California-based retailer 99 Cents Only Stores in its USD 1.6 billion sale to Ares Management and CPPIB.
• Represented Sperber Landscape Companies in the roll-up of 15 privately held landscaping companies across the US.

• Chambers USA
• American Lawyer Dealmaker of the Year
• Top Lawyer Under 40, Daily Journal