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Jonathon Whittlesey
Partner
Jonathon Whittlesey works with a wide array of clients who turn to him for his expertise and acumen in every stage of a deal and for his ability to deliver practical, business-oriented advice. In addition, Jonathon leads the firm’s US Chemicals Group, where he guides over 100 lawyers in offices throughout the world in assisting the chemicals industry on legal, regulatory, advocacy and other matters.
More broadly, Jonathon advises public and privately held entities, as well as boards of directors and individuals, on a wide array of transactional matters, including mergers, acquisitions and dispositions (both domestic and international), and involving both strategic and private equity buyers and sellers. He has extensive experience in multijurisdictional transactions and brings a global perspective to each such engagement. As part of his practice, Jonathon also assists clients with pre- and post-acquisition restructurings, as well as reorganizations designed to optimize business efficiencies.
As part of his Chemicals Group responsibilities, each year he leads the firm’s US Chemicals roundtable, facilitating high-level discussions with leading general counsel on the top legal and business issues facing the industry, and helps them anticipate the challenges that lie ahead.
Jonathon is recognized in The Best Lawyers in America for his expertise in Corporate Governance Law and International Mergers & Acquisitions Law. He was named to Crain’s Cleveland Business’ 2025 Notable M&A Dealmakers list and the Lawdragon 2026 500 Leading Dealmakers in America list. Additionally, he has previously been recognized as a Next Generation Leading Lawyer by Legal 500 and in Ohio Super Lawyers – Rising Stars, a distinction that recognizes lawyers under the age of 40 or those in practice for 10 years or less.
- Representing Valvoline in various deals, including:
- Advising in refranchising transactions of more than 70 stores to new or existing franchisees
- Representing in its various acquisitions of quick lube stores
- Advising on US$2.65 billion sale of its global products division to a subsidiary of Aramco
- Representing Ashland in various deals, including:
- Representing its divestiture of its performance adhesives business to Arkema for US$1.65 billion and involving operations in more than 15 countries
- Representing its divestiture of its composites business and BDO manufacturing facility in Marl, Germany, to INEOS Enterprises for US$1.1 billion and involving operations in more than 20 countries
- Representing the company in its divestiture of its water technologies business to a fund managed by Clayton, Dublier & Rice for US$1.8 billion and involving operations in more than 40 countries
- Representing the company in its public spinoff of Valvoline, including the separation of the businesses in more than 25 countries
- Representing the company in its €262.5 million acquisition of the personal care business of Schülke & Mayr GmbH
- Representing Synthomer in its acquisition of Eastman’s Adhesives Resins business for US$1 billion and involving operations in six countries.
- Representing Acumen Solutions in connection with the sale of its outstanding stock to Salesforce.
- Representing a real estate investment firm in the sale of interests in a multicomplex management company.
- Representing a real estate investment firm in its buyout of its joint venture partners in a series of transactions related to various development projects.
- Representing Dent Wizard International, LLC in its acquisition of OPENLANE, Inc.
- Advising The Lubrizol Corporation in the sale of its Paso Robles plant and related assets to Coast Southwest.
- Representing Momentive Performance Materials Inc. in connection with the sale of its consumer sealants business to Henkel Corporation.
- Advising Chemtool Incorporated, a subsidiary of The Lubrizol Corporation, in the sale of certain assets to Penzoil Quaker State Company, a subsidiary of Shell. Advising Olin on international legal matters and integration in connection with its US$5 billion acquisition of Dow Chemical’s Chlorine Products Division.
- Co-serving as lead corporate counsel to a publicly traded Fortune 500 company in connection with the reorganization of its global subsidiaries in the US, Asia, Latin America and Europe.
- Serving as deputy lead international counsel for a publicly traded chemical company with operations in more than 20 countries.
- Representing a publicly traded company on a series of acquisitions for various specialty chemical businesses in the US.
- Representing a publicly traded chemical company in its disposition of a line of business, which included a plant in Germany, pursuant to a New York law-governed purchase agreement.
- Representing a publicly traded Canadian oil and gas company in a series of acquisitions and divestitures in excess of US$125 million.
- Representing the founder on the formation of a private equity-backed Delaware LLC in the oil and gas industry and the LLC in its initial stock purchase acquisition.
- Representing various publicly traded companies in connection with their global corporate entity restructuring projects.
Education
- The University of Akron, J.D., cum laude, executive editor, University of Akron Law Review, 2008
- The College of William & Mary, B.A., 2005
Admissions
- Ohio, 2008
Memberships & Affiliations
- Member of the organizing committee for “Sneaker Ball,” the Northeast Ohio Chapter Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation’s leading fundraiser.
- Named to the Lawdragon 2026 500 Leading Dealmakers in America list.
- Named to Crain’s Cleveland Business’ 2025 Notable M&A Dealmakers list.
- Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America for his expertise in Corporate Governance Law and International Mergers & Acquisitions Law.