Debevoise & Plimpton LLP provides comprehensive legal counsel to private equity clients, covering M&A, fund transactions, leveraged finance, tax, and regulatory matters. The firm advises on complex buyouts, strategic investments, and fund restructurings, offering integrated, cross-border expertise. Practice chair Kevin Schmidt is a highly experienced advisor who frequently handles big-ticket acquisitions and disposals for leading firms and their portfolio companies. Paul Bird has most recently advised on acquisitions and investments in the healthcare, insurance and construction sectors. Kevin Rinker is routinely engaged on multi-billion dollar buyouts, particularly for longstanding client Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, while Jennifer Chu acts on significant market mergers and strategic partnerships. Uri Herzberg’s key clients include Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, HarbourVest, Morgan Stanley Capital Partners, and Stone Point Capital. Christopher Anthony and Spencer Gilbert both come recommended for their skill in public and private M&A, investments, and joint ventures. Gordon Moodie joined in late 2024.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
- Profile
Accolades
Client satisfaction
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Knowledgeable, practical, good sense of market, strategic and culturally aligned.'
- 'Kevin Schmidt - hard worker, relentless. Uri Herzberg - genius. Incredibly smart. Creative. Kevin Rinker - the real deal. Paul Bird - the best in the business.'
- 'Work largely seamlessly with our other advisors (e.g. financial diligence, specialist regulatory counsel, etc.).'
- 'High appreciation for younger corporate partners who show a level of dedication and commitment to our engagements and are generally very responsive - Christopher Anthony, Spencer Gilbert'.
- 'The Debevoise team has a very strong private equity focused M&A team with a lot of experience in different types of deals and sectors. They are particularly skilled ad complex private deals that involve novel structuring considerations and other complexities. They have clearly made private equity a strategic focus for the firm and that is reflected in the quality of service they provide.'
- 'Kevin Schmidt who leads the PE group is highly responsive and experienced on a wide range of transactions and situations.'
- 'Christoper Anthony offers exceptional counsel, paired with commerical acumen and calm, market based negotiation skills.'
Key clients
- The Blackstone Group
- Brookfield
- Canada Pension Plan Investment Board
- The Carlyle Group
- Cerberus Capital Management
- Clayton, Dubilier & Rice
- Elliott Investment Management
- Kelso & Company
- Morgan Stanley Capital Partners
- Providence Equity Partners
Work highlights
Advised Clayton, Dubilier & Rice in its acquisition, together with Stone Point Capital and co-investors, of Truist Insurance Holdings, a subsidiary of Truist Financial Corporation and the fifth largest insurance broker in the United States, at an enterprise value of $15.5 billion.
Advised Windstream Holdings in its merger with Uniti Group, resulting in a combined public company that will be owned approximately 62% by Uniti stockholders and 38% by Windstream equity holders.
Advised Clayton, Dubilier & Rice in its acquisition, together with TowerBrook Capital Partners, of R1 RCM Inc., at an enterprise value of $8.9 billion.
Lawyers
Hall of fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Next generation partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Practice head
Kevin Schmidt
Other key lawyers
Paul Bird; Kevin Rinker; Jennifer Chu; Uri Herzberg; Christopher Anthony; Spencer Gilbert; Gordon Moodie