Brian Howaniec

Brian is a Shareholder and a member of the Firm’s Mergers & Acquisitions and Commercial Finance practice groups. He counsels a wide variety of companies, including public and private operating companies, private equity, family offices, and other investors, on a broad range of corporate and financing matters.

Brian represents companies and funds of all types and sizes in corporate transactions and is particularly experienced in middle-market private company transactions on both the buy-side and sell-side. These transactions include various structures, such as mergers, equity and asset acquisitions, and carve-out transactions, as well as “add on" and “tack on” acquisitions. Brian regularly advises his clients on corporate governance issues and provides general counsel and strategic business advice.

Brian also has in-depth experience representing corporate and private equity borrowers in secured lending and other financing transactions, including acquisition financings, cash-flow, and asset-based loans, subordinated debt facilities, and fund lines of credit. Brian has experience in local counsel legal opinions issued in connection with financings, securities offerings, and other corporate transactions.

Prior to joining the firm, Brian was an Associate in the London and Washington, D.C. offices of a major global law firm. He earned his J.D. (magna cum laude) from Pepperdine University School of Law, where he served as a lead article editor for the Pepperdine Law Review. Brian also holds a B.S. in Finance (with high distinction) from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University, Bloomington.

Recognition

• Listed in Best Lawyers in America, "Ones to Watch" for Corporate Law, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, and Mergers and Acquisitions Law (2025)