Benjamin Persina
Partner
Ben Persina’s practice focuses on private equity, mergers and acquisitions, and other debt financings.
He represents private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies, as well as public and private companies, in a wide variety of syndicated lending, direct lending, liability management, restructuring transactions, and other financing transactions.
His clients have included, among many others, Blackstone, Brookfield, Frontdoor Inc., Hellman & Friedman, JPMorgan, New Mountain Capital, Silver Lake, TPG, and Twitter.
Ben joined the firm as a partner in 2026 from another major international law firm.
Notable Experience (including those prior to joining Cleary)
Advanced Instruments, a Patricia Industries portfolio company, in the financing related to its definitive agreement to acquire and merge with Nova Biomedical for an enterprise value of $2.2 billion.
Funds affiliated with Brookfield Asset Management in the financing related to its $1.7 billion acquisition of the Thermal Management business of nVent Electric.
The board of directors of Twitter in financing related matters relating to Twitter’s acquisition by an entity wholly owned by Elon Musk.
Hellman & Friedman in the financing related to its acquisition of UKG Inc. (f/k/a The Ultimate Software Group) in an all-cash transaction worth approximately $11 billion, and its subsequent refinancing in connection with UKG Inc.’s combination with Kronos.
New Mountain Capital in multiple financings, including in connection with its acquisitions of 3E, Ascensus, Commonwealth, Qualus, Salute, Vytalogy, Novacore, NSM Insurance Group’s U.S. commercial insurance division; Broadcast Music; Natrol; ILC Dover; Profile Products; PerkinElmer’s applied, food, and enterprise services businesses; and its investments in Citrin Cooperman, Datassential, and the nonattest business of Grant Thornton.
Centerbridge Partners in the financing related to its strategic investment, alongside Bessemer Venture Partners, in Carr, Riggs & Ingram.
Hellman & Friedman in the financing related to its strategic investment, alongside Valeas Capital Partners, in Baker Tilly and the subsequent combination of Baker Tilly with Moss Adams.
Silver Lake Partners in the financing related to its acquisition of TEG, Asia Pacific’s leading live entertainment and ticketing company.
TPG Rise Climate in the financing related to its acquisition of AmSpec Group and subsequent syndicated refinancing.
Blackstone in the financing related to its acquisition of International Data Group and its acquisition and combination of Encore Inc. and PSAV.