1. Where do you work?

I am a partner at Seidler Equity Partners, a Los Angeles-based private equity fund. Our firm raises money from foundations, endowments, high net worth money management firms and other institutional investors. We then use this capital to invest in privately-held companies that are looking for a long-term financial partner. For the last four years, I have been involved in all the aspects of the fund-management business, including fundraising, prospecting for new investment opportunities and closing investments, serving on the Boards of several of our partner companies and helping them to identify growth opportunities and, ultimately, find profitable exit opportunities for our investments.

What are you up to?

In addition to our growing firm, my wife Trista and I have a growing family of three kids – Zach (8), Josh (5) and Alexandra (18 months). We spend a majority of our time serving in our Church, raising funds for the elementary school Booster Club, getting the kids to sports and music practices, and trying to stay involved in USC alumni activities.

2. How has USC Law had an impact on your career?

The law school did much more than provide me with a top-level legal education – it helped me to develop both the critical analysis skills that served me so well as a transactional attorney at O’Melveny & Myers, as well as the practical problem-solving skills that are relevant in my current investment management profession. 

3. What is your fondest memory of law school?

I enjoyed pretty much everything about my USC Law experience, but the highlight for me was the time I spent as a writing instructor for the 1L writing class. It allowed me not only to teach, which I love to do, but to serve as a mentor to many younger classmates who struggled through those first few months of law school like I did. I hated grading papers, but treasure the camaraderie with my fellow writing instructors. And who can help but think fondly back on the first day of Torts class with Dean Bice?

4. Which course was the most challenging for you (and why)?

Intellectually, I think Law, Language and Ethics was the most challenging class because the confluence of legal (justice) and ethical / moral (mercy) considerations in approaching real-world issues never seems to permit a bright-line solution. However, it is also one of the classes I enjoyed the most for that very reason. From a technical point of view, International Business Transactions was probably the most difficult because the conflicts of laws rules were always troublesome to sort out. 

5. What advice do you have for current students?

I recognized early on in law school that I was going to have to study hard for the Bar exam regardless of what classes I took, so I decided to take as many classes as possible during my last two years that were interesting to me personally (regardless of whether they were tested subjects). The Law School has a wonderful array of classes outside the standard list of bar exam courses, and I am glad that I took the opportunity to explore many of these subjects. 

6. Why do you stay involved with the law school?

I had such a positive experience as a student at The Law School that it makes me want to stay connected – not just to the institution, but to the people. Every time I have the chance to come back and participate it reminds me of the three wonderful years that I spent there and the meaningful relationships have that resulted.