DLA Piper LLP (US)’s private equity team provides comprehensive legal support on buyouts, exits, and portfolio company transactions, leveraging its extensive global platform to advise on complex, multijurisdictional deals. Team head Joseph Silver operates out of Atlanta and is a highly active mid-market advisor who assists clients with acquisitions, strategic investments, growth equity funding rounds, and disposals. New York's James Kelly is experienced across all manner of private equity deals, handling initial investments through to restructurings and exits for a variety of major financial sponsor clients. Chicago's Harris Eisenberg’s sector-specific experience includes professional services, tech and healthcare deals. Advising from Reston, Eric Grossman’s broad practice encompasses leveraged buyouts, growth equity and venture capital investments, restructurings and joint ventures. Atlanta's Daniel Rollman, whose recent highlights includes substantial disposals, also comes recommended.

Goodwin's 'best-in-class' private equity practice combines deep expertise in middle-market and growth equity transactions with a strong global presence. The firm advises sponsors and investors on structuring complex deals, fund formations, and buyouts. Helming the practice from Boston is John LeClaire, a seasoned partner valued by both financial sponsors and growth companies who rely on his advice regarding M&A, investments, and restructurings. Co-chair Brian McPeake has an extensive cross-border practice and covers a range of sectors including financial services, fintech, software and healthcare from San Francisco. New York co-head Chris Nugent underpins his transactional pedigree with skill in corporate governance, while Chris Wilson is noted for his healthcare and tech-focused practice. Joshua Klatzkin is well-regarded for his work across small-cap and mid-market buyouts and is another key name for early stage growth instructions. Amy Keller also comes recommended for her broad practice.

King & Spalding LLP advises sponsors and portfolio companies on complex transactions, including buyouts and M&A, across the US, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. New York's Jonathan Melmed is a prolific advisor who covers transactions across a variety of sectors, including tech, energy and infrastructure, and life sciences. Atlanta's Rahul Patel has ‘outstanding relationships with private equity firms’ who call upon him for expertise in buyouts, strategic investments and joint ventures, while Aaron Hullman, who operates out of Washington, is recognized for his experience in the energy and infrastructure space. Adam Hankiss brings further venture capital capabilities to the New York office and works for a diverse roster of clients including funds, family offices and financial institutions. Enrico Granata is based in New York and has a broad transactional practice and is a frequent port of call to clients engaging with assets in regulated industries, while Atlanta's Justin King is a go-to for sports-related deals. Joseph Halloum joined from Freshfields in June 2024.

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP advises private equity firms and their portfolio companies on transactions across the middle and upper-middle market, with expertise spanning M&A, fund structuring, and management incentives. The firm is a trusted adviser to sponsors such as New State Capital Partners and Platinum Equity, with a strong focus on energy, healthcare, and financial services investments. Christina Melendi leads the team from New York and whose broad capabilities range from acquisitions and to minority investments and joint ventures. Co-chairing the practice from New York, Andrew Milano is noted for his track record across a multitude of sectors, including tech, infrastructure, manufacturing and logistics, while co-heads Kevin Shmelzer and Benjamin Wills, who are based in Philadelphia, are skilled in cross-border M&A. In New York, Allison Gargano is well-versed in corporate transactions, particularly leveraged buyouts, while Todd Hentges advises major sponsors across tech, healthcare, and sports from Orange County. New York’s Christina Edling Melendi comes recommended for the breadth of her sponsor-side and portfolio-side deals.

Morrison Foerster is a key adviser to middle-market private equity firms, offering expertise across M&A, fund formation, and restructuring. The firm is highly active in the US and internationally, with notable strength in technology, food and agriculture, and impact investing. Patrick Huard spearheads the practice from San Francisco and maintains a broad transactional practice and regularly advises clients engaging with assets in the technology and consumer sector. New York’s Mitchell Presser offers skill in M&A as well as astute insight into the food and agricultural industry, leveraging his experience as founding partner of Paine Schwartz Partners. Also based in New York, Omar Pringle acts for a broad range of clients including financial sponsors, family offices and corporates on domestic and cross-border transactions, while Erik Knudsen splits his time between Denver and San Francisco and brings significant expertise in leveraged buyouts, joint ventures, restructurings and venture capital investments. Denver’s Tyler Sewell has had a recently strong track record on aerospace, defense and government-oriented deals.

Known for its strength in upper middle-market private equity transactions, Reed Smith LLP advises on high-value buyouts across key sectors, including technology, healthcare, and financial services, showcasing extensive cross-border capabilities. Mark Pedretti leads the team from New York and is a highly experienced practitioner who acts for private equity firms, sovereign wealth funds, family offices and investment banks on high-stakes M&A, finance and tax matters. New York co-head Christopher Sheaffer has recently been active on complex takeovers, growth equity investments, and multi-jurisdictional carve-outs, while Chicago co-head Bradley Schmarak works with sponsors and their portfolio companies on domestic and cross-border deals across multiple sectors. Matthew Mohn has a strong practice in Pittsburgh and is experienced overseeing substantial acquisitions and disposals, including complex auction processes, and New York’s Anatoliy Rozental features heavily in the firm’s media and entertainment-oriented deals. Clients turn to Nicholas Gibson in Chicago for M&A, portfolio management, and corporate advisory services.

Winston & Strawn LLP’s client roster comprises a host of middle-market private equity funds, hedge funds, and institutional investors, who engage the firm for representation in big multi-jurisdictional transactions. Spearheading the practice from Dallas, Matthew Stockstill is a prolific advisor whose diverse practice spans acquisitions, disposals, and fund formation and management instructions. Co-head Brian Schafer, based in Chicago, is the key relationship partner to major financial sponsors such as Wind Point Partners and Excellere Partners, while in New York, co-head Brad Vaiana is noted for his transactional pedigree, handling leveraged buyouts, take-privates, distressed deals, growth equity investments, and exits. Co-head Timothy Kincaid, operating from the Chicago office, has recently been active in healthcare and education-related mandates. Eva Davis, based in Los Angeles, assists a wide range of funds with domestic and international capital deployment. David Lange, Austin Leach, and Brendan Mace also come recommended.

The team at Akin acts for a range of clients – both sponsor and management side – on a steady flow of high-value middle market transactions, with particular skill in regulated sectors and distressed deals. New York-based Amy Wollensack advises a broad client base on the full spectrum of M&A and PE transactions, also demonstrating expertise in corporate governance matters. Thomas Yang, also based in Dallas, has recently handled sponsor-side and portfolio company-side transactions for Princeton Equity Group. Andy Lehman rejoined the firm from McDermott Will & Emery LLP in May 2024 based in Houston, while the final co-head and New York-based Sergio Urias advises private equity firms and sovereign wealth funds on complex cross-border transactions. Eli Miller, also based in New York, is particularly active in the industrials and manufacturing space. Elina Alperovich joined from Greenberg Traurig LLP in October 2024 and brings previous in-house experience at Apollo to the fore. Jeff Potash also joined the firm from Covington & Burling LLP in October 2024. David D’Urso, Elazar Guttman, and Thomas McCaffrey all left the practice in 2024.

Baker McKenzie significantly bolstered its private equity offering in 2024 with the addition of 17 transactional lawyers from Munger, Tolles & Olson including 11 corporate and tax lawyers who joined as partners. Michael Fieweger leads the recently expanded team from Chicago and is active on upper mid-market buyouts, carve-out sales, and majority and minority investments. Eric Schwarzman, who joined the firm’s San Francisco office from Latham & Watkins LLP in January 2024, advises global alternative asset managers and private equity firms on multi-jurisdictional transactions, while Steven Canner has recently been engaged in infrastructure and construction-oriented deals. Los Angeles-based Brett Rodda is recommended for his M&A and corporate governance expertise, leveraging prior in-house experience at Silver Point Capital, while Chicago’s Erika López is noted for her strength in leveraged buyouts. Justin Bryant advises clients from Palo Alto

Choate, Hall & Stewart private equity team is dedicated to middle-market transactions, advising a strong roster of private equity funds, venture capital firms, and corporates. The practice is jointly chaired by Sarah Camougis, Lee Feldman, and T.J. Murphy. Camougis is a seasoned transactional practitioner who frequently oversees cross-border deals involving South America, Europe, and Asia. Murphy maintains a broad practice spanning both highly regulated and high-growth industries, while Feldman is accomplished in leveraged buyouts, investments, and recapitalizations. Further names of note include Brian Lenihan, a skilled M&A lawyer with particular expertise in the tech, fintech, and healthcare sectors; Mark DeFeo, who is noted for his ability to advise across the entire fund lifecycle; and Daniel Riley, whose practice balances both private equity and growth equity deals. The team is based in Boston.

A trusted adviser in the middle-market private equity space and known for its deep industry knowledge and cross-border capabilities, Holland & Knight LLP advises funds, investors, and portfolio companies on complex transactions, with a standout reputation in healthcare deals. David Barkus leads the team from Miami who is a key contact for many of the firm’s top clients. Bryan Gadol advises from Newport Beach and is well-placed to act on deals across a variety of sectors, including tech, healthcare and manufacturing. The ‘fantastic’ Aaron Slavens sits in Miami and is noted for his expertise in the insurance space, while Rick Bange has a deal sheet that features buyouts, growth equity investments, and disposals, advising clients from Charlotte. Chattanooga’s Roddy Bailey is active across early stage and late stage investments, and Miami’s Jordan Taylor has recently been engaged with healthcare and professional services-related transactions.

Noted for its strength in healthcare private equity and independent sponsor transactions, McGuireWoods LLP is active on sponsor-side and portfolio company-side acquisitions and exits. Thomas Zahn co-leads the team from Pittsburgh and is the go-to advisor many of the firm’s most substantial financial sponsors, including Revelstone Capital Partners and Assured Investment Management. Jon Finger leads the practice from Dallas and is an experienced transactional specialist who also is highly active on fund formation and investment matters. Both based in Chicago, Geoffrey Cockrell is highly proficient in healthcare-related deals, while Gregory Hawver who oversees healthcare deals alongside his energy and infrastructure focus, is noted for his cross-border capabilities. Jeff Brooker handles early stage and late stage investments from Dallas.

Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP is a leading advisor on private equity buyouts, representing major middle-market funds and their portfolio companies in complex domestic and cross-border transactions. The firm has notable strength in M&A and PIPE investments, with an established presence in sectors such as healthcare, financial services, and technology. Eleazer Klein and Benjamin Kozinn co-lead the team, with the latter noted for his strength in complex leveraged buyouts Adriana Schwartz advises an extensive roster of funds across the full investment life cycle, including capital raises, investments and exits, while David Curtiss brings astute finance knowledge to a wealth of transactions. Damian Petrovic has a broad practice that includes M&A, corporate governance, and commercial agreements, and Lauren Troeller assists across the full spectrum of firm mandates. Brian Miner left the firm in February 2024. All individuals are based in New York.

A&O Shearman‘s diverse roster of sponsor clients – ranging from major PE houses to growth funds – turn to the team for its capabilities across a range of transactions, including complex, multijurisdictional deals. Alain Dermarkar helms the practice from Dallas and handles a steady stream of deals that include capital raises, acquisitions, restructurings, joint ventures and exits. New York’s Romain Dambre is active across multiple of sectors, with recent engagement with digital infrastructure and financial services-related matters. Kyle Park is instructed on both financial sponsor and portfolio-side transactions from Dallas.

K&L Gates provides comprehensive counsel to private equity funds across their entire lifecycle, from formation to exit. The firm underpins strong transactional expertise with key regulatory understanding, and demonstrates a solid track record across the tech, healthcare, financial services, and energy sectors. Rick Giovannelli leads the team from Charlotte and possesses a broad sponsor and portfolio-side practice that includes acquisitions, restructurings and financings. Kevin Stichter's technical background is valued by clients active in the tech and life sciences sectors, while John Blair is a go-to for leveraged buyouts. Mary Scott Kennedy works closely with a number of growth-oriented financial sponsors.

Milbank's private equity team advises funds, sponsors, and portfolio companies on transactions, structuring, and financing, drawing upon expertise in M&A, tax and regulatory matters to advise a variety of funds, sponsors and portfolio companies. Dean Sattler heads the team in New York and is a key advisor to some of the globe's largest asset managers, often instructed on complex middle market deals. Co-head Richard Presutti focuses on joint ventures and restructurings alongside M&A, and Derek Winokur is highly proficient in both leveraged buyouts and growth equity deals. Shannon Footer, Benjamin Fidler and Paul Bennett also come recommended.

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe is a trusted advisor to private equity funds and portfolio companies, leveraging deep expertise in technology, life sciences, energy, and infrastructure, and possessing a strong track record in cross-border mandates. David Ruff helms the practice from New York and is highly active on complex transactions for a range of high-profile sponsors. Washington DC's Tony Chan is a go-to for growth equity and venture capital deals, particularly in the tech and life sciences industries. Danny Lopez works closely with key client Turn/River Capital and operates out of San Francisco.

Working closely with a strong cohort of global private equity firms, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, LLP advises on acquisitions, buyouts, and strategic investments, complementing its transactional counsel with regulatory, tax, and financing expertise. The team is led by New York’s Stephen Amdur, who is noted for his broad sector focus, alongside Jarrod Murphy, also based in New York, who has been recently active on energy and infrastructure deals, and Silicon Valley’s Allison Leopold Tilley. Further names of note include Nicole Islinger in Washington DC and Matt Swartz in Northern Virginia.

Troutman Pepper Locke LLP advises private equity sponsors on middle-market transactions across a range of industries, with notable experience in cross-border M&A, corporate carve-outs, and auction processes. Team head Bruce Fenton sits in Philadelphia and regularly collaborates with the firm’s leveraged finance practice on high-profile buyouts, while Wilmington co-head Matthew Greenberg brings public M&A expertise to the fore, with notable experience in carve-outs, distressed transactions, and capital raisings. Orange County's Todd Philip Boylan is noted for his strength in healthcare and life sciences transactions, and Charlotte's Alec Watson handles a range of debt and equity deals for funds of all sizes. Philadelphia's Joseph Kadlec and Berwyn's Jeremy Levy are active across multiple sectors, advising on both sponsor-side and management-side M&A. Boston's Nicholas Stawasz acts across the entire investment lifecycle and provides further capabilities in corporate governance and commercial contracts.