

Robert J. Wild
Partner
Office: Chicago
rwild@kdlegal.com
p: 312-235-1119
f: 312-423-9303
m: 312-371-6345
Bob Wild advises small and mid-cap publicly-traded issuers on day-to-day federal securities law disclosure and compliance and board corporate governance. Bob represents issuers in initial public offerings, follow-on underwritten offerings of equity, senior debt, Rule 144A high-yield offerings and related registered exchange offerings.
Bob also represents buyers and sellers in public and private acquisitions and divestitures of stock and assets.
He has represented bank holding companies, a federal home loan bank, mission-based investment funds, and companies in the manufacturing, business consulting, automobile warranty, wireless telecom, and gaming sectors.
Bob serves as the Regional Executive Partner of the Chicago Office.
Representative Experience
- Advise public companies on SEC compliance and corporate governance
- Represent companies in public and private stock and debt offerings
- Represent public and private companies and bank holding companies in mergers, purchases and sales of businesses and assets
- Represent parties in ESOP formations and sales of ESOP companies
Notable Securities Offerings
- Issuer counsel of NASDAQ-listed regional bank holding company’s $115 million IPO and $50 million underwritten public offering of preferred shares
- Issuer counsel in underwritten $175 million senior notes offering of NASDAQ-listed regional bank holding company and underwritten common equity offerings for publicly-traded long-term care facilities developer
- Counsel to independent board members of subject company in $240 million common stock tender offer of NYSE-traded national restaurant operator
Notable Mergers and Acquisitions
- Representation of ESOP trustees as 100% shareholders in multiple cash sales exceeding an aggregate of $1.9 billion
- Representation of NASDAQ-listed regional bank holding company in multiple acquisitions of public and privately-held bank holding companies with purchase consideration exceeding an aggregate of $1.5 billion in registered common stock and cash
- Representation of NASDAQ-listed regional bank holding company in the acquisition of Chicagoland branches, and loan portfolio and assumption of deposit liabilities from publicly-traded bank holding company operating in multiple regions throughout the United States, and the acquisition of a privately-held equipment leasing company (transaction values not disclosed)
- Representation of Board and majority shareholders of privately-held healthcare provider in the sale of 100% of its shares to a newly-formed ESOP for cash, notes and warrants in excess of $70 million
- Representation of privately-held industrial manufacturer in the cash sale of international divisions to NYSE-listed acquirer for in excess of $55 million
Presentations & Events
- Society for Corporate Governance, 2016 National Conference - "Managing the Private Company Board," Colorado Springs, CO June, 2016
- Society for Corporate Governance, 2017 National Conference - "Private Companies: Issues with Unique Complications," San Francisco, CA June, 2017
Professional Associations
- Society for Corporate Governance, Chicago Chapter, 2008 - Present (Advisory Committee, Co-Chair Membership Committee); 2015 and 2017 National Conference Committee
- The John Marshall Law School, Guest Lecturer - Business Planning and Drafting Course Class on Mergers and Acquisitions Agreements, 2013 - Present
- Chicago Waldorf School, Board of Trustees, 2009 - 2018; Audit Committee Chair, 2009 - Present
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago, Board of Directors, September, 2006 - June, 2018
- Pedersen-McCormick Club of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago, Club Council, June, 2006 - May, 2019
- Loyola Academy Class of 1979 Reunion Committee
Awards & Recognitions
- Best Lawyers in America©, Securities / Capital Markets Law, 2010–2020
- Best Lawyers in America©, Securities Regulation, 2011–2020
Publications
Education
-
J.D., Loyola University Chicago School of Law, Chicago, Illinois, 1989
- Loyola Consumer Law Review, Executive Editor
- Master of Science in Taxation, DePaul University, Chicago, Illinois, 1987
- B.B.A., Public Accounting, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, 1983
Bar & Court Admissions
- Illinois
Practices
Industries
Bob Wild advises small and mid-cap publicly-traded issuers on day-to-day federal securities law disclosure and compliance and board corporate governance. Bob represents issuers in initial public offerings, follow-on underwritten offerings of equity, senior debt, Rule 144A high-yield offerings and related registered exchange offerings.
Bob also represents buyers and sellers in public and private acquisitions and divestitures of stock and assets.
He has represented bank holding companies, a federal home loan bank, mission-based investment funds, and companies in the manufacturing, business consulting, automobile warranty, wireless telecom, and gaming sectors.
Bob serves as the Regional Executive Partner of the Chicago Office.
Representative Experience
- Advise public companies on SEC compliance and corporate governance
- Represent companies in public and private stock and debt offerings
- Represent public and private companies and bank holding companies in mergers, purchases and sales of businesses and assets
- Represent parties in ESOP formations and sales of ESOP companies
Notable Securities Offerings
- Issuer counsel of NASDAQ-listed regional bank holding company’s $115 million IPO and $50 million underwritten public offering of preferred shares
- Issuer counsel in underwritten $175 million senior notes offering of NASDAQ-listed regional bank holding company and underwritten common equity offerings for publicly-traded long-term care facilities developer
- Counsel to independent board members of subject company in $240 million common stock tender offer of NYSE-traded national restaurant operator
Notable Mergers and Acquisitions
- Representation of ESOP trustees as 100% shareholders in multiple cash sales exceeding an aggregate of $1.9 billion
- Representation of NASDAQ-listed regional bank holding company in multiple acquisitions of public and privately-held bank holding companies with purchase consideration exceeding an aggregate of $1.5 billion in registered common stock and cash
- Representation of NASDAQ-listed regional bank holding company in the acquisition of Chicagoland branches, and loan portfolio and assumption of deposit liabilities from publicly-traded bank holding company operating in multiple regions throughout the United States, and the acquisition of a privately-held equipment leasing company (transaction values not disclosed)
- Representation of Board and majority shareholders of privately-held healthcare provider in the sale of 100% of its shares to a newly-formed ESOP for cash, notes and warrants in excess of $70 million
- Representation of privately-held industrial manufacturer in the cash sale of international divisions to NYSE-listed acquirer for in excess of $55 million
Presentations & Events
- Society for Corporate Governance, 2016 National Conference - "Managing the Private Company Board," Colorado Springs, CO June, 2016
- Society for Corporate Governance, 2017 National Conference - "Private Companies: Issues with Unique Complications," San Francisco, CA June, 2017
Professional Associations
- Society for Corporate Governance, Chicago Chapter, 2008 - Present (Advisory Committee, Co-Chair Membership Committee); 2015 and 2017 National Conference Committee
- The John Marshall Law School, Guest Lecturer - Business Planning and Drafting Course Class on Mergers and Acquisitions Agreements, 2013 - Present
- Chicago Waldorf School, Board of Trustees, 2009 - 2018; Audit Committee Chair, 2009 - Present
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago, Board of Directors, September, 2006 - June, 2018
- Pedersen-McCormick Club of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago, Club Council, June, 2006 - May, 2019
- Loyola Academy Class of 1979 Reunion Committee
Awards & Recognitions
- Best Lawyers in America©, Securities / Capital Markets Law, 2010–2020
- Best Lawyers in America©, Securities Regulation, 2011–2020
Publications
Education
-
J.D., Loyola University Chicago School of Law, Chicago, Illinois, 1989
- Loyola Consumer Law Review, Executive Editor
- Master of Science in Taxation, DePaul University, Chicago, Illinois, 1987
- B.B.A., Public Accounting, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, 1983
Bar & Court Admissions
- Illinois