Brett Rodda

Brett J. Rodda is a corporate partner at Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP. Mr. Rodda’s practice touches on a wide variety of corporate transactions and securities matters, with a focus on representing investment funds, strategic buyers and boards of directors.

Mr. Rodda returned to the firm in 2018 after serving as general counsel of Silver Point Capital, L.P., an investment adviser with more than $10.5 billion in capital focused on global credit, distressed and special situations investments.

In private practice, he has represented buyers and sellers in numerous 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 clients, hedge funds and other investors.

Mr. Rodda, who began his private practice at Munger Tolles in 1999, also represents public and private company boards of directors. He has counseled boards and special committees in connection with M&A transactions, internal investigations, senior management transitions, activist investor issues and corporate governance matters, as well as difficult disclosure and fiduciary duty questions.

Key Representations:

• BDT Capital in its joint venture to acquire Peet’s Coffee & Tea for $1 billion, and in its investment with Colfax Corporation to acquire Charter International for $2.4 billion.
• Berkshire Hathaway in more than 12 public company acquisitions, including its $44 billion acquisition of Burlington Northern Santa Fe, and its merger agreement with Wesco Financial in a cash and stock deal valuing Wesco at $2.7 billion.
• Lazard in its role as financial advisor to the Special Committee of the Board of Directors of Dole Food Company in its acquisition by David Murdock, and as financial advisor to the Board of Directors of Ryland Homes in its merger with Standard Pacific.
• Leading the securities and regulatory analysis in connection with Warren Buffett’s historic gift to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Mr. Rodda has been recognized by Chambers USA and was named a Daily Journal Top Lawyer Under 40 for his work on Berkshire Hathaway’s $44 billion acquisition of Burlington Northern Santa Fe and the merger of the William Morris and Endeavor talent agencies.

Mr. Rodda received his law degree from Stanford Law School, where he graduated Order of the Coif. He obtained a B.A., summa cum laude, from George Washington University, where he majored in political communication. Prior to attending law school, Mr. Rodda worked as an associate in the corporate communications department of the NASDAQ Stock Market.

Education:

• Stanford Law School (J.D., 1999) Order of the Coif; associate editor, Stanford Law Review
• George Washington University (B.A., summa cum laude with special honors, 1995) Phi Beta Kappa

Bar Admissions : California