JOHN A. WEISSENBACH, 56

FIRM: Kirkland & Ellis LLP

LAW SCHOOL: Harvard

SELECTED CLIENTS: Oaktree Capital Management (including the Global Principal Investments group and the GFI Energy Group), Shamrock Capital Partners, Lovell Minnick Partners, Brentwood Associates, Willis Stein & Partners

YEARS IN PRACTICE: 23

Most Difficult Deal: A minority investment transaction in which the opposing party and counsel were inexperienced, inefficient, inconsistent and unreasonable.

Highlight of Past Year: My daughter running 2:02.04 in the 800-meter finals at the California State Track & Field Championships in June.

The Secret to Closing a Deal: There is no secret. It’s about listening carefully and thinking creatively but practically.

If I Weren’t an Attorney: I think I would have been an investor.

My Colleagues Don’t Know: Collectively, they know most everything.