The Legal 500 > United Kingdom - Solicitors > London > Private equity: transactions - mid-market deals (up to £250m)

Addleshaw Goddard attracts a regular flow of mid-market  private equity mandates from its regular clients, as well as securing several new client wins across 2019. The team advises on buyouts, investments, and management buyouts, with values ranging from the lower to the upper-middle-market. Sector specialisms include financial services, technology, business services, and consumer goods. The team is led by Mike Hinchliffe, who is highly active across all aspects of the firm's offering, while Yunus Seedat has an impressive client list that includes CPBE and inflexion. Also of note is senior associate Gemma Phillips, who is highly praised by clients for her leading role in transactions, and legal director Jemma Clarke, who primarily advises investors and portfolio companies.

Ashurst advises on a wide variety of transactions, including buyouts, investments, portfolio company M&A and exits, with notable capabilities in deal structuring and financing, growth and venture capital, and cross-border transactions. The team works closely with the firm's equity capital markets practice, and has a range of sector specialisms including infrastructure, healthcare, education, and financial services. Clients include individual private investors, family offices, and institutional PE houses, such as Agilitas and Brookfield Infrastucture. David Carter leads the practice, and advises on large cross-border transactions for several of the firm's major clients. Braeden Donnelly is also recommended.

DLA Piper maintains a consistently high deal volume across the UK and Europe, with heavy involvement in venture and growth capital, alongside mid-market private equity transactions. The firm has a strong presence across the UK and Europe, with transactional lawyers able to support the specialist private equity team in London. The practice acts for a number of notable PE houses, including  Duke Street, Ares, and Inflexion- a new client for the firm. Practice head Tim Wright is consistently active in his work with many of the firm's most prominent clients, while Ed Griffiths specialises in technology transactions, particularly those with cross-border elements. Manchester-based James Kerrigan has notable relationships with Beech Tree, LDC, and ECI Partners, while John Pryor is also recommended. Piero Carbone joined the team from McDermott Will & Emery UK LLP in September 2020.

Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP acts on a significant volume of mid-market transactions for an extensive client list that includes a number of major buyout houses. The team benefits from offices across the UK and the firm's global platform, enabling it to act on both regional domestic deals and cross-border buyouts, exits, and investments. Areas of expertise include education, technology, financial services, and renewable energy. The team is led by James Trevis, who is highly active in transactions, advising a number of the firm's key relationship clients. Richard Moulton heads up the firm's international corporate team and advises on cross-border transactions. The firm's regional strength is reflected in the contributions of newly-promoted partner Lizzy Tindall in the Manchester office, and Louise Finnie, who acts prolifically for funds and management teams in both London and Birmingham.

Macfarlanes LLP advises private equity houses on acquisitions in the high-cap and mid-market space, as well as advising management and working on secondary transactions and credit fund lending. The team works on standard buyouts, portfolio company M&A, public-to-privates, investments, and carve-outs, collaborating with international counsel on cross-border deals. Alex Edmondson leads the team and maintains  relationships with a number of key clients. Former PE head Stephen Drewitt continues to lead on a number of major transactions for sponsors and management teams. Ian Martin has retired.

Travers Smith LLP 's strong PE team has grown its client base with names such as Arlington Capital Partners and Exact Group, adding to its longstanding relationships with buyout houses including Bridgepoint, 3i, and TA Associates. As well as advising on both premium and mid-market transactions for leading PE houses the practice also has a distinct  management advisory team, working with major target corporates. Practice head Ian Shawyer works with institutional investors and target companies, while Lucie Cawood has strong cross-border capabilities. Adam Orr works on a variety of transactions alongside heading up the management advisory team.

Akin Gump LLP expanded its team considerably in 2019, with four new partners joining the firm and bolstering its offering. Shaun Lascelles and Simon Rootsey arrived from Vinson & Elkins RLLP, providing significant expertise in energy and emerging market transactions, with Helios and Vitol Investments notable new clients in the space. Africa-focused investment specialist Weyinmi Popo arrived from Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe (UK) LLP, while Gavin Weir joined from White & Case LLP. The firm works with an array of private equity funds, maintaining a notable relationship with the Carlyle Group, alongside sovereign wealth funds, working closely with the firm's funds and finance practices. The practice is led by Sebastian Rice, a specialist in cross-border transactions with key contacts across Europe, the US, and Russia.

Dentons advises a wide range of clients, including buyout funds, venture capital, secondary funds, individual and institutional investors, offering them strong cross-border capabilities courtesy of the firm's global platform. Notable clients include KKR and Blackstone, with the practice advising on lower-mid-market deals up to bulge bracket. Notable sector specialisms include technology, infrastructure, financial services, and fintech. Global M&A chair David Collins oversees the practice, while key players include Nicholas Plant, who remains highly active in major cross-border transactions across a variety of asset types, and Stephen Levy, who works with funds, portfolio companies, and management teams from several industries. The practice was bolstered by the arrival of Paul Doris from Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe (UK) LLP, as part of a wider expansion of the corporate team.

Hogan Lovells International LLP 's City PE practice has been boosted by the return of partners Ed Harris  and Leanne Moezi  (alongside US partner Adam Brown ) to the firm from Paul Hastings LLP . The trio re-joined the transatlantic firm in summer 2020, only a year after leaving for Paul Hastings LLP . The team advises on M&A, co-investments and secondaries transactions, advising corporates, buyout houses, alternative investors and institutional investors. The team also includes John Connell, a versatile transactional partner who advises clients on acquisitions, investments, joint ventures, and disposals.

Jones Day has a broad private equity offering, advising a number of major large and mid-market houses on acquisitions, investments and portfolio company M&A and exits across a variety of industries, including infrastructure, health care, technology, and life sciences. These sector specialisms are combined with a notable capability in acquisition finance, enabling the team to advise on all aspects of complex cross-border and multi-party transactions. Patrick Stafford leads the team, and offers considerable expertise on the full range of transactions, including cross-border work, distressed acquisitions, and joint ventures. Giles Elliott has a strong focus on the finance sector and financing matters, while Anna Cartwright, Julian Runnicles and Laura Pembridge are also highly recommended.

Mayer Brown International LLP has increased its share of mid-market mandates, after securing new clients like Equistone and CPBE and building on existing relationships with prominent players such as Vitruvian, Halifax, and EMK Capital. The team is able to advise across the UK, Europe and the US and is further supported by its City leveraged finance practice, led by Stuart Brinkworth. Practice head Perry Yam is highly active in the market, advising clients such as Vitruvian and Halifax on notable acquisitions in a variety of industries. James West is also recommended. He has particular experience of deals in the tech, travel and financial services sectors.

Norton Rose Fulbright advises PE houses and portfolio companies across the lifecycle of investments, including buyouts, portfolio company M&A and restructuring, and exits. As well as traditional private equity, the practice also advises alternative private capital providers such as banks, family offices, and asset managers. The team advises on a number of cross-border transactions, thanks to a global platform across Europe, Asia, and the US. Sector specialisms include technology and innovation, including fintech and non-tech investments in technology companies. David Marshall leads the team, advising on domestic and cross-border buyouts, joint ventures, and bolt-on transactions. Bayo Odubeko focuses on private equity and venture capital investments in emerging markets, particularly Africa. Sophie O’Connor made partner in 2019, and specialises in technology and financial services transactions.

Osborne Clarke has a strong record on the buy and sell-side of mid-market private equity transactions, with a wide range of national and international clients, including an increasing number of mandates from US-based private equity funds. The team also has a notable capability advising management of target companies, including businesses involved in high-value buyouts. The team is led by Alisdair Livingstone, who is active in transactional work and maintains key client relationships. Tim Hewens is recommended for his work in high-value and middle-market transactions, alongside management advice, while Mark Spinner is also noted for his transactional capabilities, particularly in healthcare.

Led by Paul Mann, the team at Squire Patton Boggs works with a number of mid-market buyout houses, portfolio companies, and management teams, with focused teams in London and across the UK regions. This geographical spread, combined with the firm's global platform, allows it to advise on a variety of cross-border transactions and investments on behalf of international clients. The team was bolstered in early 2020 with the arrival of Stephen Ball from KPMG Law in the United Kingdom, and the joint hire of Charles Leeming and Ben Squires from Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, with the new hires expanding the firm's presence in London and relationships with major PE houses and corporates.

Stephenson Harwood has significantly expanded its dedicated private equity presence in London with the hire of Malcolm MacDougal, Adam Crossley, and Richard Coleman from Charles Russell Speechlys LLP . Each brings notable client relationships and expertise in mid-market transactions, exits, and spin-outs. The new arrivals bolster an existing team led by the highly experienced Jonathan Pittal and Gabriel Boghossian, who specialises in education-related deals. The team acts across a variety of sectors, ranging from growth capital investments in tech to mid-market transactions in financial services and healthcare, as well as providing management-side advice and working with new spin-out funds. The team is assisted by the firm's funds and secondaries practices.

Taylor Wessing LLP advises a number of buyout funds on mid-market domestic and international deals, as well as advising on growth capital investments and assisting management teams in acquisitions. The firm's notable focus on the tech sector has contributed to a consistent flow of deals in this sector. The team is led by Emma Danks, who oversees a range of international transactions for clients. Also recommended are James Goold, who advises on financing and transactions, and senior associate Jonny Bethell, who has taken the lead on transactions and in securing new mandates.

Cooley (UK) LLP is able to combine transatlantic tech expertise with mid-market UK private equity links, with its hire of Ben Shribman from Jones Day in early 2020 boosting its City offering. Shribman has previously worked with clients including Inflexion and Bain Capital Credit. The wider London team advises buyout funds, tech-focused investors, and management teams on a range of transactions in the lower to upper-mid market, working with the likes of GIC and Alcuin Capital. Stephen Rosen leads the practice, and advises on a range of PE buyouts, investments, venture capital transactions, and company-side sales to funds. London managing partner Justin Stock works on portfolio company M&A and public-to-private deals.

Gowling WLG advises on buyouts, exits, and secondary transactions for repeat sponsor clients and sector specialist funds, including several international funds investing in UK assets. These sector specialisms include healthcare and life sciences, technology, logistics and energy. The team works on domestic transactions, as well as collaborating with international offices on cross-border deals. Ian Piggin leads the practice, and is a trusted adviser to many buyout houses, with a particular specialism in life sciences transactions. Chris Towle works on a range of private equity-backed deals, including high-value real estate investments. Newly promoted partner Neil Hendron is active in the healthcare and life sciences sectors.

McDermott Will & Emery UK LLP offers a range of industry expertise in mid-market transactions across the UK and Europe. The team works with buyout houses, management teams, and high-net-worth family offices in complex transactions across a number of sectors, with particular strength in healthcare and life sciences. The arrival of practice head Tom Whelan from Hogan Lovells International LLP has bolstered the firm's practice, contributing significant expertise and new client relationships in retail and energy. Eleanor West is also recommended.  Piero Carbone  joined DLA Piper in summer 2020.

Mishcon de Reya LLP focuses on management team advisory work and advice to family offices and high-net-worth private investors, as well as working with private equity houses. Matters include buyouts, exits, and investments. Practice head Nadim Meer is active in the retail, consumer and leisure industries, advising investors, listed companies, and funds, while Andrew Rimmington focuses on cross-border mid-market transactions in financial services, fintech, and communications. Lucinda Brendon is noted for her transactional and advisory work in a number of industries.

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius UK LLP has increased its profile in London following its 2018 hire of a team from Herbert Smith Freehills LLP and now offers transactional PE expertise across a number of focus sectors including life sciences, technology, energy, and investment management. The team acts on mandates ranging in value from lower-mid market to bulge bracket, but works primarily in the mid market. Of particular note is the firm's cross-border focus, advising clients in the US and Asia on multi-jurisdictional transactions. Thomas Cartwright leads the London practice alongside Mark Geday, focusing on private equity buyouts and investment management work. Timothy Corbett specialises in technology and life sciences transactions, and Tomasz Wozniak has a a strong niche in deals involving Russia.

Paul Hastings LLP' City practice is headed by Anu Balasubramanian , who remains highly active internationally, advising on a number of transactions and securing several new clients. The team continues to benefit from the arrival of former Hogan Lovells International LLP corporate partner Steven Bryan , who advises on buyouts, exits and investment deals, with a particular focus on infrastructure. However a three-partner private equity team including London partners Leanne Moezi and Ed Harris returned to Hogan Lovells. Other key names in the London practice at Paul Hastings include Garrett Hayes , who is notable for his work in the telecommunications field, and Matthew Poxon , whose transatlantic mandates include advising City Football Group on a $500m investment by Silver Lake.

Watson Farley & Williams LLP advises on a range of domestic and cross-border private equity transactions, including buyouts, investments, and exits. Focus areas include energy and infrastructure, transportation, natural resources, and real estate, supported by established practices elsewhere in the firm. Chris Kilburn leads the team, and specialises in natural resources, energy, and transport deals, including joint ventures and financing issues. Andy Savage has a particular focus on Africa-based infrastructure work, while Tom Jarvis offers in-house tax and structuring expertise to transactional PE clients.

Burges Salmon LLP advises on mid-market private equity and venture capital deals, advising UK and US-based funds and management teams. The practice benefits from reach across the UK, with Danny Lee a notable arrival in the firm's new Edinburgh office, joining from Shepherd and Wedderburn. Sector specialisms include telecommunications, energy, and infrastructure, with several high-value deals closing  during 2019 in these sectors. The practice is led by Mark Shepherd, who advises a variety of buyout, debt, and infrastructure funds on transactions and investments, alongside Richard Spink, who specialises in financing matters for PE and venture capital clients.

Charles Russell Speechlys LLP advises funds, management teams, and family offices on buyouts, exits, and minority investments, combining this service with a notable capability advising private clients on a full spectrum of work. The practice is headed by Andrew Clarke, David Coates, and Adrian Mayer ,following the departure of a team including Malcom McDougall to Stephenson Harwood. Clarke advises on mid-market private transactions, while Coates specialises in finance and growth capital work, particularly in the retail and TMT sectors.

Dorsey & Whitney leverages long-standing relationships with private equity houses, portfolio companies, and management teams to ensure a consistent flow of mid-market private equity mandates, with particular focus on the healthcare, recruitment, technology, and professional services industries. Of note, is the team's advice to management on asset protection in professional services buyouts, notably law firm purchases. The team is led by Fabrizio Carpanini, an experienced adviser to institutional investors and management teams, while Carsten Greve has notable contacts with investors in Northern Europe and the Nordics.

DWF‘s team advises a variety of notable funds, including Ares Management, Inflexion, and CPBE, as well as management teams for target companies in several industries. With a spread of lawyers across London and the North West, the firm is able to act on UK-wide and cross-border buyouts, exits, minority investments, and carve-outs. The practice is led by North West-based pair Jonathan Robinson and Paul Rimmer, who both maintain national practices and relationships with major houses and investors.

RPC specialises in private equity-backed transactional work for buyout houses, venture capital investors, and target companies. The firm's sector focus include technology, retail, financial services, and insurance, a particular niche for the corporate team. The practice is led by David Wallis, who advises on UK and US-originating transactions in the financial services and insurance sectors, both on the buy and sell-side. James Mee also specialises in insurance work, with extensive knowledge of the industry in both advisory and transactional matters.

Winston & Strawn LLP has expanded its share of mid-market London private equity work, securing new mandates from UK and US-based buyout houses, family offices, and independent sponsors. The practice is supported by the leveraged finance and tax teams. The team is led by Paul Amiss, who handles cross-border investments in Europe and the US, alongside Nicholas Usher, who primarily works with US-based funds, and financial institutions. Anthony Riley joined from Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe (UK) LLP in 2019 and has a focus on private equity and energy and infrastructure transactions.