Praised as an ‘absolutely brilliant team working at the very top end of their game’, Addleshaw Goddard has a proven track record in mid-market private equity and continues to act for a range of buyout houses on both acquisitions and exits. In addition to its sponsor-side work, the practice also acts on the management side of deals including representing public companies. Yunus Seedat now serves as divisional head of corporate and commercial, with Mike Hinchliffe leading the private equity team. Graham Cross is another name to note in this space, with particular expertise handling deals involving financial services companies. Gemma Phillips was promoted to partner in May 2021. The London-based team works closely with its other offices around the UK, with Paul Medlicott in Manchester a particularly active partner in this area. The wider firm also continues to expand its presence in Europe, opening a Paris office in 2021 and a Dublin office in April 2022.

In addition to its work on high-value deals, Macfarlanes LLP remains one of the most active names in the mid-market private equity space, where it advises buyout houses across the lifecycle of investments. The group’s work in 2021 included advising on carve-out acquisitions from public companies as well as handling portfolio company M&A and assisting management teams on sales to PE. Alex Edmondson heads up the team and focuses on acting for sponsors in buyouts, while Jessica Adam has recently been engaged on a string of mandates from management teams. Other partners to note include Stephen Drewitt, who has deep experience in this space, Justin Hope and Stephen Pike.

Travers Smith LLP‘s ‘technically excellent, thoughtful and commercial’ team has a proven pedigree in the private equity mid-market, where it acts for a host of prominent names including TA Associates, Inflexion, Bridgepoint and ECI Partners. The team acts for these clients across the full private equity lifecycle, from acquisitions to bolt-on deal through to exits. Ian Shawyer heads up the PE group and has substantial expertise in cross-border M&A. Lucie Cawood is a highly rated partner in this space, while Ian Keefe is praised by clients as a ‘truly outstanding lawyer’. 

Noted for its highly international practice, Akin continues to act on a steady stream of mandates from PE houses and sovereign wealth funds. The team has a particular focus on deals involving African companies and also regularly handles transactions in Asia and Europe. Shaun Lascelles and Simon Rootsey offer specialist expertise in the energy sector, especially oil and gas, while Gavin Weir has broad expertise but has recently been highly active in financial services deals. Weyinmi Popo handles infrastructure PE deals across energy and telecommunications. Stephen Brown joined the firm in November 2021 and has a niche advising on the structuring of  management team incentives and equity arrangements in relation to PE deals.

Dentons continues to be highly active in cross-border PE transactions, where it leverages its network of offices around the world to act for both sponsors and portfolio companies. Clients value the PE group, which acts across a broad range of sectors, for its ‘practical advice in terms of moving deals towards completion’. Nicholas Plant and Stephen Levy are key names to note in the department, with experience acting for buyout houses including KKR, KPS and LeapFrog. Plant co-heads the firm’s global private equity group and is praised as having ‘industry expertise and a fresh business-oriented approach’.

Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP acts for a broad client base of mid-market buyout houses on deals across Europe, with experience acting across a range of sectors. The practice is instructed on a steady stream of acquisitions and investments, and also routinely represents both sponsors and management teams on exits. The team, which is praised by clients for its ‘sector experience and pragmatic, proactive approach’, is headed by James Trevis in London and is spread across the firm’s UK offices. In London, Richard Kyle is another key name to note, with Mark Beardmore in Birmingham and Robin Skelton in Leeds also highly active dealmakers. The UK team also frequently works with the wider firm’s offices in Europe to handle multi-jurisdictional transactions. Jon Gill joined the team in September 2021 from TLT, while Walter Kulvick joined from Ashurst in May 2022. Ceri-Ann McGraa was promoted to partner in the same month.

Goodwin‘s work in the private equity space includes acting for a broad and growing client base of mid-market funds on acquisitions, exits and portfolio company M&A. The practice is sector-agnostic, with experience handling deals involving technology, financial services, consumer goods and life sciences companies. In addition to its work in mainstream PE, the practice also handles infrastructure and growth capital deals. Practice head Richard Lever is ‘focused on finding ways to help get the transaction over the line’, with Carl Bradshaw, Gemma Roberts and James Grimwood all highly active in the mid-market PE space. The private equity partners work closely with the firm’s tax and finance partners to provide a comprehensive service to clients.

Hogan Lovells International LLP has a strong presence in the private equity mid-market, with expertise handling cross-jurisdictional deals for prominent buyout houses. While the team is active across a range of sectors, it has a particular focus on regulated industries such as financial services and healthcare. Practice head Ed Harris regularly assists on buyouts, exits and investments and is also skilled at advising on complex transactions such as secondaries and co-investments. Corporate partner John Connell is another figure to note in the private equity space. Anthony Doolittle ‘brings quality and breadth’ and was promoted to partner in January 2022.

Mayer Brown International LLP acts for a host of new and established clients on sponsor-side private equity deals, advising on acquisitions, exits and joint ventures. The team is notably active in the technology sector, and also handles real estate and infrastructure PE transactions. Perry Yam leads the practice and is a highly experienced dealmaker in the mid-market space; James West is another key figure in the team and stood out in 2021 for his work on carve-out acquisitions. Neil Evans departed the practice in December 2021, while Tarun Patel and Electra Callan joined from Ropes & Gray in August 2021 and were made up to partner in January 2022.

Osborne Clarke LLP’s private equity team forms an integral part of its private capital offering, and is active both in mainstream PE as well as the growth capital space. The practice offers clients expertise in acting on the buy and sell-sides of private equity deals for buyout houses and a growing roster of management teams. Alisdair Livingstone leads the practice and has a broad client base of PE funds, while Greg Leyshon is the key partner on transactions for Lloyds Development Capital. Tim Hewens has experience in PE and M&A, while Alistair Francis  is praised by clients for his work in this space.

Cooley (UK) LLP is well-known for its work in the technology sector, with the firm’s London private equity group acting for management teams and tech-focused PE houses on a range of transactions. The practice has a particular niche in advising on matters at the intersection of venture capital and private equity, such as co-investments between VC and PE funds. Stephen Rosen leads the team, as well as the overall corporate practice. He works alongside Ben Shribman, who is ‘skilled, expert, calm and accommodating’ and advises sponsors and portfolio companies on deals.

Jones Day has a keen focus on the infrastructure and real estate sectors, where it acts for US and European PE funds on acquisitions, exits and strategic partnerships. Anna Cartwright  and Laura Pembridge are the key names to note here and work closely with the firm’s real estate, tax, regulatory and M&A practices. The team is also engaged in mainstream PE deals, with group head Patrick Stafford working alongside Julian Runnicles and Giles Elliott. Stafford also co-chairs the global PE practice, while Runnicles is praised as ‘pragmatic’ and ‘a rockstar’.

McDermott Will & Emery UK LLP stands out in the market for its strong presence in the healthcare sector, where it acts for a range of sponsors on investments and acquisitions; the group also advises life sciences and healthcare companies on exits to PE funds. In this work, the team benefits from its healthcare regulatory expertise. It is also well-placed to handle cross-border deals, where it draws on its network of offices across Europe and the United States. Eleanor West  is noted for her focus on healthcare deals, while practice head Tom Whelan is active across energy, technology and leisure.

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius UK LLP‘s London office works closely with the firm’s teams in the United States to advise on the full spectrum of deals in the private equity sector. Mark Geday is a key figure in the practice and handles deals involving financial services companies as well as portfolio company M&A. Elsewhere, Tomasz Wozniak takes a leading role in early-stage investments, particularly in the technology sector. Tom Cartwright departed in June 2022.

Paul Hastings LLP has close ties to Abry Partners and Astorg Partners, acting for these sponsors in acquisitions, joint ventures, exits and a sizeable volume of portfolio company M&A. The practice stands out for the cross-border nature of its work, regularly acting on transactions involving European companies. Anu Balasubramanian leads the team and has strong relationships with a range of US and European buyout houses. The group was bolstered in June 2022, when Tom Cartwright joined from Morgan, Lewis & Bockius UK LLP.

Sidley Austin LLP continues to expand its private equity team in London, recruiting Paul Dunbar and Dan Graham from Vinson & Elkins RLLP in August 2021 as well as Robert Darwin from Dechert LLP in March 2022. The trio join a practice which is making a name for itself representing sponsors in acquisitions, investments and disposals across a range of sectors. The team is particularly active in advising US-based buyout houses, working alongside the firm’s offices in the US, and also handles a substantial volume of portfolio company M&A. Key contacts in the team include Eleanor Shanks, who ‘always delivers her deals on time and above expectations’, Fatema Orjela and Adam Runcorn.

Stephenson Harwood acts for PE houses, portfolio companies and management teams on mid-market transactions, including buyouts, bolt-ons, PE-backed management buyouts and disposals. The team also advises on growth investments. Jonathan Pittal leads the team, with Malcolm MacDougall, Adam Crossley and Richard Coleman also key names in the practice. Crossley is ‘commercial, diligent and personable’ while Pittal is praised for his deep experience in this area.

At Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, the ‘exceptionally responsive’ Ian Ivory leads a team that handles private equity deals across sectors ranging from financial services to manufacturing to retail. In addition to its work in mainstream private equity, the practice has a notable presence in the real estate PE space, where Chris de Pury advises on transactions across a variety of real estate asset classes.

Gowling WLG acts for sponsors and portfolio companies on a steady stream of investments, mergers, acquisitions and bolt-on deals. The practice is also engaged by growth equity funds, particularly in the renewable energy sector, where Gareth Baker takes the lead. Neil Hendron and Ian Piggin are also key names to note; Piggin leads the team and handles deals across sectors including professional services and technology, while Hendron focuses on the healthcare sector.

Norton Rose Fulbright has a broad private equity practice in London, which is regularly leverages the wider firm’s expertise in the insurance sector to handle transactions and fundraisings involving companies in this market. Nicholas Berry has a particular focus on the insurance sector, while practice co-head Sophie O’Connor also handles insurance-related deals alongside acting for funds and management teams on a range of PE matters. Fellow co-head Bayo Odubeko is noted for his focus on emerging markets. David Marshall left in early 2022 forBaker Botts (UK) LLP.

Watson Farley & Williams LLP focuses on infrastructure real estate, advising on deals in sectors including telecoms, offshore wind and solar, and is also noted for its work in the shipping sector. Much of the firm’s work is cross-border and it is especially active in emerging markets such as Nigeria and Ghana. Chris Kilburn leads the overall London corporate group and is active in both PE and traditional M&A. Andy Savage is the key name to note on transactions in the African market.

Based in Bristol, Burges Salmon LLP advises PE houses across the full lifecycle of investments, from buyouts to bolt-on acquisitions and through to eventual exits. The practice is also instructed by management teams and is active across sectors including financial services, retail and technology. Mark Shepherd leads the team in Bristol, with Danny Lee also taking a lead on deals from the firm’s Edinburgh office.

Charles Russell Speechlys LLP is active across private equity investments, acquisitions, bolt-on deals and exits, with experience acting for PE funds and management teams. The technology sector is a particular area of focus for the team, which handles deals involving software, fintech and health-tech. The practice also stands out for its work in the African PE market, with Cheltenham-based partner Adrian Mayer specialising in these deals. Andrew Clarke leads the team, with David Coates and Jonathan Morley also key partners in the London office.

K&L Gates LLP has a broad private equity practice, acting for funds, portfolio companies and management teams in transactions across a varied range of sectors. James Cross is the key figure to note in the practice and frequently works alongside tax, employment and banking partners on deals. He is praised as ‘a pleasure to work with’, while the wider team is ‘knowledgeable and extremely hard-working’.

Mishcon de Reya LLP is best-known for its work advising management teams on transactions involving private equity, including exits to PE houses, PE-backed management buyouts and secondary buyouts. The practice also frequently acts for management teams and institutional investors on sales. Nadim Meer leads the team and is ‘calm and knowledgeable’, with Andrew Rimmington also active in this space.

RPC is noted for its work in private equity deals involving insurance companies, acting for sponsors on acquiring these companies as well as handling bolt-on deals for portfolio companies. David Wallis heads up the team and works closely with insurance specialist James Mee.

Winston & Strawn LLP‘s London office frequently acts alongside the firm’s offices across the Atlantic to advise US PE houses on investments into the UK. The practice also handles a steady stream of deals on behalf of UK-based houses. Paul Amiss and Nicholas Usher lead the team, which offers additional expertise in advising funds and portfolio companies on financings; Ian Borman is the key name to note in this area.