Rita O’Neill has been named to The Deal’s “Top Women in Dealmaking” for both M&A and Private Equity. This recognition highlights women in the legal profession who excel in their fields, in addition to contributing to mentorship, advancing gender diversity and thought leadership.
Rita is a leader in M&A and Private Equity, as well as in advocating for the advancement of women in law and business. Rita’s ability to seamlessly transition between Private Equity and strategic M&A makes her a go-to advisor for highly complex transactions and competitive auction processes—particularly for clients eager to creatively take advantage of current market disruptions—including taking private undervalued public companies by sponsors and strategic minority investments. As co-head of S&C’s Global Private Equity practice, Rita advises many long-term S&C Private Equity clients, including Ares Management, Oaktree Capital and the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, in their most strategic transactions.
Rita also serves as Co-Chair of the Tulane Corporate Law Institute, Vice Chair of the ABA M&A Committee and Co-Chair of the ABA’s Acquisition of Public Companies Subcommittee. Rita is the Co-Founder and Co-Chair of WiMA, a network of senior women M&A dealmakers focused on business generation, a member of S&C’s Women’s Initiative Committee and a past Co-Chair of the ABA’s Women in M&A Subcommittee.