David Washburn Quoted in Law360 on Tariffs' Impact on Private Equity Attorneys Amid Market Uncertainty

Katten partner and global co-chair of the firm’s Mergers & Acquisitions and Private Equity practice, David Washburn, was featured in a recent Law360 article analyzing how private equity dealmakers adapted throughout 2025 as shifting tariff policies and broader macroeconomic volatility tempered deal flow and challenged conventional approaches to execution.

Speaking to the year's volatility and its practical effects on forecasting, capital deployment and cross-border cost structures, David noted the fundamental role uncertainty played in reshaping market behavior. "Some people call it uncertainty, some people say chaos," David said. "We're talking about the same thing. Uncertainty created downward pressure on the private equity markets … I don’t anticipate that the amount of confusion and uncertainty will decrease. Personally, I think it might change clothes."

"PE Attys Get Creative As Uncertainty Dampened Deal Market," Law360, December 19, 2025