David Pivnick
Appearances
Becker Private Equity & Business Podcast
Market Uncertainty, Leadership Lessons, and Competitive Dynamics with David Pivnick of McGuireWoods LLP 4-19-25
But I think in terms of the market and what the Fed chairman and others are saying, I think the biggest takeaway for me is I'm in my low 40s and unfortunate that I have a
Becker Private Equity & Business Podcast
Market Uncertainty, Leadership Lessons, and Competitive Dynamics with David Pivnick of McGuireWoods LLP 4-19-25
fortunate and unfortunate, I guess, but I have a long runway to retirement such that I'm not actively monitoring and losing my mind over the market day to day, which I recognize is something I have the benefit of and others don't. But I think there are, you know, the market is going to be impacted and continue to be impacted by uncertainty. That's just part of what happens with the stock market.
Becker Private Equity & Business Podcast
Market Uncertainty, Leadership Lessons, and Competitive Dynamics with David Pivnick of McGuireWoods LLP 4-19-25
And so as long as there is a level of uncertainty, whether it's relative to tariffs, rates, international relations, the potential for a looming recession. There's enough headwinds that I think it's going to be tough for the market to become fully stable right now. But I don't know that there's any sort of magic solution.
Becker Private Equity & Business Podcast
Market Uncertainty, Leadership Lessons, and Competitive Dynamics with David Pivnick of McGuireWoods LLP 4-19-25
I don't think it's a situation where just don't worry about it is the answer, nor do I think it's one where overall panic is the right answer either. But again, easier for me to say than for someone who's approaching retirement or currently retired and is looking at those funds in their retirement account more actively and concerned.
Becker Private Equity & Business Podcast
Market Uncertainty, Leadership Lessons, and Competitive Dynamics with David Pivnick of McGuireWoods LLP 4-19-25
And in terms of President Trump as a master negotiator versus something else, I mean, I think like with many things, he's just unpredictable. And I don't think there is a simple answer I think some of it might be grand strategy. I think some of it might be power plays and feeling out how it will work. And I think that lack of cohesion isn't helpful, but I think in some ways it's strategic as well.
Becker Private Equity & Business Podcast
Market Uncertainty, Leadership Lessons, and Competitive Dynamics with David Pivnick of McGuireWoods LLP 4-19-25
First of all, if you were not trying to call Zach Levine a cancer, you did a very poor job not calling him a cancer. I think in the Bulls' case,
Becker Private Equity & Business Podcast
Market Uncertainty, Leadership Lessons, and Competitive Dynamics with David Pivnick of McGuireWoods LLP 4-19-25
They had a lot of younger talent and guys who, with the ball in their hands, Josh Giddey and Kobe White, had a lot more to offer than they were allowed to show while Zach Levine was running things and was getting the ball and taking the majority of the shots. And so in their instance, I think it is less a function of Zach Levine not being good or being a problem
Becker Private Equity & Business Podcast
Market Uncertainty, Leadership Lessons, and Competitive Dynamics with David Pivnick of McGuireWoods LLP 4-19-25
and more of the young guys the Bulls have, I think have some real potential and had some unlocked ability that they were able to get unlocked and help. I do think it's interesting that with Sacramento, who is a weird team because they traded De'Aaron Fox and looked like sellers, and then they added Levine, they sort of stumbled down the stretch.
Becker Private Equity & Business Podcast
Market Uncertainty, Leadership Lessons, and Competitive Dynamics with David Pivnick of McGuireWoods LLP 4-19-25
They haven't looked great over the back half of the season. Their record is actually worse than the Bulls since the trade deadline, and I think they're going to lose to the Mavericks tonight and get eliminated, although Kyrie not playing and being out for the year doesn't help the Mavs, whereas I think the Bulls are going to beat the Heat tonight. We'll see if I'm right on that, but I think
Becker Private Equity & Business Podcast
Market Uncertainty, Leadership Lessons, and Competitive Dynamics with David Pivnick of McGuireWoods LLP 4-19-25
The bottom line is they have a lot of young talent that's exciting for them to build around. And I think giving those kids a chance was incredibly helpful. I'm not sure it's as much a criticism or a shot at Zach Levine so much as just having the talent available and providing young kids the opportunity to shine and them stepping up and doing exactly that.
Becker Private Equity & Business Podcast
Market Uncertainty, Leadership Lessons, and Competitive Dynamics with David Pivnick of McGuireWoods LLP 4-19-25
I think most – on the latter part, I mean, I think bandwagon fans of big market teams around the country are probably cheering for them. And I get lots of jokes how because I'm a Cowboy fan, I must love the Yankees and Lakers, both of whom I hate. But putting that aside, I think the vast majority of fans are not cheering for the Lakers.
Becker Private Equity & Business Podcast
Market Uncertainty, Leadership Lessons, and Competitive Dynamics with David Pivnick of McGuireWoods LLP 4-19-25
And the short answer to your first question is no, I don't think they can win it all. I don't think they have enough defensive talent on that roster to in their role players, and I don't think they have enough of an interior presence in the paint, both rebounding and defending the paint, in order to win. So I think they're capable of beating any team in the West, other than maybe the Thunder.
Becker Private Equity & Business Podcast
Market Uncertainty, Leadership Lessons, and Competitive Dynamics with David Pivnick of McGuireWoods LLP 4-19-25
I don't think the West is having that strong of a year, but I don't think the Lakers could beat any of the top four or five teams in the Eastern Conference, and I don't think they can get by the Thunder. So I think this is a year where to sort of feel out the process, get familiar with each other, maybe win a playoff round or two at most.
Becker Private Equity & Business Podcast
Market Uncertainty, Leadership Lessons, and Competitive Dynamics with David Pivnick of McGuireWoods LLP 4-19-25
And then I think it's a function of rounding out the roster and adding some bigs in the offseason to try and give it a real shot next year with LeBron and Luka leading the way.
Becker Private Equity & Business Podcast
Market Uncertainty, Leadership Lessons, and Competitive Dynamics with David Pivnick of McGuireWoods LLP 4-19-25
It is no longer the forum. They play in the Bell Center. I have not watched a game there, although I've been there a couple of times where we debated it, but I have not actually been to a game there. I'm sure it's a great place. at the Bell Center to watch a game these days.
Becker Private Equity & Business Podcast
Market Uncertainty, Leadership Lessons, and Competitive Dynamics with David Pivnick of McGuireWoods LLP 4-19-25
From what I've seen on TV, it certainly seems like a very lively and engaged and knowledgeable crowd, but I'm sure it's not as good as the old form used to be, the same as the United Center is great, but I can't imagine it compares to what Chicago Stadium was like in terms of crowd noise, presence, and impact.
Becker Private Equity & Business Podcast
Market Uncertainty, Leadership Lessons, and Competitive Dynamics with David Pivnick of McGuireWoods LLP 4-19-25
That's a great question, Ed. It's an easy answer for me. I haven't been in a couple years, but unless something meaningful has changed in the last couple years, by far what was Assembly Hall in Champaign when I was in law school and is now, I believe, State Farm Arena. But the Illini Basketball Stadium is by far my favorite place to watch a game.
Becker Private Equity & Business Podcast
Market Uncertainty, Leadership Lessons, and Competitive Dynamics with David Pivnick of McGuireWoods LLP 4-19-25
Not a professional sport, but my absolute love the team, love the stadium, and love being down in Champaign. So that's an easy one for me.
Becker Private Equity & Business Podcast
Market Uncertainty, Leadership Lessons, and Competitive Dynamics with David Pivnick of McGuireWoods LLP 4-19-25
I mean, I have Blackhawks season tickets, too. So the United Center is definitely more of a home stadium. But I spend equal, similar amounts of time in both. And for basketball, certainly Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee is my home stadium.
Becker Private Equity & Business Podcast
Market Uncertainty, Leadership Lessons, and Competitive Dynamics with David Pivnick of McGuireWoods LLP 4-19-25
No, and I don't. And I'm scared to ask.
Becker Private Equity & Business Podcast
Market Uncertainty, Leadership Lessons, and Competitive Dynamics with David Pivnick of McGuireWoods LLP 4-19-25
Thanks for having me, Scott.
Becker Private Equity & Business Podcast
Market Uncertainty, Leadership Lessons, and Competitive Dynamics with David Pivnick of McGuireWoods LLP 4-19-25
Perfect. Thank you, Scott. I think it's an interesting question, and I'm going to answer the substance in a second. I think All aspects of that question are somewhere in the middle ground between the extremes you described. But I want to just note that I'm not sure how you possibly started that question with rat battles of history on YouTube, which feels very far afield from the rest of it.