Experienced, focused and approachable. We are Thoma Bravo.

Ali Bennett is a Counsel at Thoma Bravo. Based in Chicago, she joined the firm in 2022 and assists with legal, compliance and regulatory functions. Before joining Thoma Bravo, Ali was an Associate in the Kirkland & Ellis Investment Funds Group, representing investment advisers and private investment funds. Previously, she was an Associate at Sidley Austin. Ali is a Georgetown University Law Center graduate, and she holds a BA from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Danielle (“Dani”) W. Dixon is a Counsel at Thoma Bravo. Based in Chicago, she joined the firm in 2021. Before joining Thoma Bravo, Dani served as a Senior Associate at Croke Fairchild Morgan & Beres, where she focused on the formation, structuring and operation of various funds and their management companies. Prior to that, Dani was an Associate in the Kirkland & Ellis Investment Funds Group, representing sponsors across different private investment vehicles. Earlier she worked as an Associate in the Corporate Group of Greenberg Traurig. Dani is a graduate of the University of Michigan Law School, and she holds a BA with distinction in Biopsychology Cognition and Neuroscience (BCN) and Political Science from the University of Michigan.

Hayley Hegwood is a Senior Paralegal at Thoma Bravo. Based in Chicago, she joined the firm in 2024. Before Thoma Bravo, Hayley spent seven years at Valor Equity Partners in a variety of roles, including Executive Assistant to the Co-President and Paralegal to the Legal Department. Before Valor, she held paralegal positions at Stilp Business Law and the Law Firm of Hartweg, Turner, Wood & DeVary. Hayley has a BS in Legal Studies and Political Science and a Paralegal Certificate from Illinois State University.

 

 

Gerald T. "Jerry" Nowak is Managing Director, Chief Administrative and Legal Officer at Thoma Bravo. He joined the firm in January 2021, bringing more than two decades of private equity, M&A and capital markets legal experience to the role.

Based in Chicago, Jerry oversees Thoma Bravo’s Legal & Compliance, IT and administrative functions. He works closely with the firm’s Investment Committee, frequently serving as the firm’s lead legal advisor on major transactions.

Jerry has served as lead counsel on hundreds of private equity, M&A and capital markets transactions. He previously was a Partner at Kirkland & Ellis in Chicago, where he advised Thoma Bravo as outside counsel on a variety of transactions and mandates for nearly 20 years prior to joining the firm.

Jerry has been widely recognized as a leading practitioner in the industry—named in The International Who’s Who of M&A Lawyers, a “Super Lawyer” by Law & Politics Magazine and a top high-yield debt practitioner in The Legal 500 U.S. He was also honored as a “Leading Lawyer” for Corporate Finance Law, Mergers & Acquisitions Law and Securities & Venture Finance Law by Leading Lawyers Network.

A former Air Force officer and computer systems cost analyst, Jerry began his career in the U.S. Air Force before transitioning into private practice. He holds a JD from the University of Michigan Law School, an MBA from Auburn University, an MFA in Creative Writing from Northwestern University and a BA in Economic Policy Analysis from Michigan State University.

Colleen O'Kelly is Vice President, Senior Counsel at Thoma Bravo. Based in Chicago, she joined the firm in 2018. Before joining Thoma Bravo, Colleen was a Senior Consultant in Deloitte & Touche’s Regulatory and Operations practice, where she focused on regulatory and compliance matters for investment managers and institutional investors. Colleen is a graduate of the University of Maryland School of Law, and she holds a BA in History from the University of Wisconsin - Madison.

Steven Schwab is Senior Director, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer at Thoma Bravo. Based in Chicago, he joined Thoma Bravo in 2015 and is responsible for the firm’s legal, compliance and regulatory functions, which includes the design, implementation and operation of the firm’s compliance program. Prior to joining Thoma Bravo, Steven held senior legal, compliance and management positions, including General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer, at international investment firms and broker-dealers. Before moving in-house, he practiced law in the Financial Services Groups at Winston & Strawn and Katten Muchin Rosenman in Chicago, where he advised clients across the spectrum of regulated financial services firms. Steven is a regular speaker at industry conferences on topics affecting the private equity industry. He earned a JD, cum laude, from Loyola University School of Law in Chicago and a BA from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Steven also holds a FINRA Series 14 registration and has previously held FINRA series 7 and 24 registrations.