Jason Booth

Jason Booth is a Partner and the General Counsel of Arbor Investments, a Chicago-based private equity firm founded in 1999 that invests exclusively in the food and beverage industry. He joined Arbor in 2013 and oversees all legal aspects of the firm's operations, including transaction execution, portfolio-company oversight, risk management, and regulatory compliance. He is listed on the firm's team page under the "Of Counsel / Partner" designation, reflecting a senior legal-and-governance role rather than a deal-sourcing investment role.

Before joining Arbor, Booth built his career as a private equity transactional attorney, focused on private equity fund formation and portfolio-company representation. He was a Partner at DLA Piper LLP (U.S.) and earlier practiced at Winston & Strawn LLP, both large international law firms with substantial private equity practices.

Booth earned his J.D. from Harvard Law School, graduating cum laude, and a B.S. from Bradley University, where he graduated summa cum laude. Originally from Pella, Iowa, he lists musky fishing and snowmobiling among his personal interests.

As Arbor's General Counsel, Booth sits at the center of the firm's deal execution and compliance function — a firm that has acquired or invested in more than 80 companies in North America and completed roughly 39 exits since its founding.

• Sole focus on food & beverage: Arbor invests only in the food and beverage sector, positioning itself as a specialist ("food experts with a proven approach") rather than a generalist buyout shop.
• Middle-market, profitable businesses: The firm targets established, cash-generating middle-market companies, driving returns through operational improvements and add-on ("buy-and-build") acquisitions.
• Broad food value chain: Areas of interest include regional/niche branded food products; produce, meat and dairy processors; ethnic food manufacturers; flavors and ingredients; baked goods; restaurant chains; co-packers for retailers and foodservice; food packaging; grocery and specialty food retail; and food logistics.
• Operational value-add: Beyond ~15 investment professionals, Arbor deploys ~11 operating professionals and ~7 functional experts covering food safety, regulatory compliance, marketing, HR, and IT to support portfolio companies.
• Booth's role in "yes": As GC, Booth's remit is transaction execution, portfolio-company oversight, and regulatory/compliance diligence — he is a gatekeeper on legal and risk terms rather than the person who originates or champions deals.