What are the most significant cases or transactions that your legal team has recently been involved in?  

Carlyle’s Global Legal Investments (GLI) team work seamlessly across all of Carlyle’s global multi-asset platform – covering private equity investments through to credit transactions, renewable and sustainable energy, and infrastructure deals.  

Over the last 12 months, the GLI team has played a key role in: the sale of Neptune Energy to Eni for US$4.9bn in the largest cash deal in the European oil and gas sector for almost a decade; the acquisition of Anthesis, a global pure-play sustainability advisory and solutions firm; the acquisition of Meopta, a manufacturer of optical, opto-mechanical, and opto-electronic solutions; the acquisition of Tescan, a manufacturer of electron microscopes; the completion of development phase and Notice to Proceed on construction of New Terminal One at JFK airport; and the acquisitions of Benny Blanco’s portfolio of compositions and Keith Urban’s master recordings by Carlyle-backed Litmus Music   

Can you foresee any key developments to the way general counsel work over the next five years?   

The increased prominence and potential application of AI is anticipated to have an impact on the legal profession as well as the operations of the firm and the businesses in which it invests. This will require legal teams to be at the forefront of understanding AI’s likely impact to be able to support the firm and its portfolio companies through a period of transition and transformation.  

General counsel increasingly need to proactively consider competing risks and how best to prioritise them, especially as recent events have placed greater emphasis on preparing for the unforeseen. The GLI team has successfully adapted to this new era in risk management, supporting the firm and its portfolio through recent volatile and uncertain periods, by identifying and responding to areas of risk, that go well beyond the legal sphere.   

As a general counsel, how do you anticipate and prepare for potential legal and regulatory challenges that may arise, particularly in light of emerging technologies and evolving business landscapes?   

Many key global jurisdictions are taking protectionist steps to strengthen their ability to review and actively intervene in proposed transactions. This reflects a broader trend towards greater scrutiny of transactions, and an increased focus on sensitive sectors. General counsel and their teams are navigating a sizeable increase in the powers of regulatory authorities in several key jurisdictions to intervene in M&A processes. 

ESG considerations remain a key area of focus for general counsel and their legal teams across a broad spectrum. They are increasingly acting as strategic advisors on ESG matters, highlighting the increased collaboration across different aspects of the business.