Johnston, Allison & Hord P.A. is a North Carolina-based firm with extensive experience advising private equity clients on fund formation, tax structuring, mergers and acquisitions, portfolio management, and exit strategies. The firm’s attorneys work closely with portfolio companies to provide legal guidance and support to their clients to achieve their business objectives. David S. Rugani is the chair of the firm’s corporate and nonprofit practice group. Rugani's practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions involving private companies and private equity funds.

DLA Piper LLP (US)’s private equity practice has a proven track record assisting clients with middle-market deals across the entire business lifecycle. The firm is also home to a dedicated Rep and Warranty underwriting practice, and supports clients acquiring outside the US and with foreign operations. Joseph Silver spearheads the practice from Atlanta, acting as counsel to prominent private equity firms. Gerry Williams, also based in Atlanta, focuses on domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, securities, and corporate governance matters. New York-based James Kelly leads transactions related to regulated sectors, including AI, industrials, healthcare, and business services, and represented Columbus McKinnon in its merger with Kito Crosby. Chicago’s Harris Eisenberg focuses on structuring, negotiating, and managing private equity buyouts, divestitures, and recapitalizations, while Eric Grossman, based in Reston, represents issuers with their initial public offering. Atlanta-based Daniel Rollman advises privately held businesses preparing for strategic sales to private equity firms and institutional investors. Neil Vohra joined the practice in March 2025, having previously worked at Kirkland & Ellis LLP.

With a particularly active private equity practice, Goodwin advises clients in the software, technology, consumer, healthcare, financial services, and financial technology sectors on complex buyout transactions, platform acquisitions, add-on transactions, and general corporate and governance matters. The team places a notable emphasis on growth equity matters, advising blue-chip private equity firms and growth companies. The team places a strong emphasis on growth equity, working with prestigious private equity firms and emerging growth companies. The private equity practice is co-led by John LeClaire in Boston, who specializes in representing growth companies through leveraged recapitalizations, buyouts, and minority investments. San Francisco’s Brian McPeake assists private equity funds with structuring and completing their investments. Chris Nugent, based in New York, specializes in compensation arrangements for investment professionals, senior advisors, and operating executives. Other key names include Washington’s Matt Mauney, who is experienced across regulated industries such as healthcare, aerospace, and defense, and Boston’s Chris Wilson, who represents management teams and operating executives from healthcare services and technology companies in sales transactions.

Baker McKenzie‘s private equity team utilizes its global network to assist clients with cross-border acquisitions, add-ons, refinancing, portfolio company management, restructurings, and exits. The team is capable of handling complex mandates, collaborating closely with the tax, finance, intellectual property, M&A, and employment teams. Practice head Michael Fieweger manages the team from Chicago and represents private equity fund managers and sovereign wealth funds in their global acquisition and investment activities. He is joined by Chicago’s Eric Schwarzman, who advises private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies in the technology sector. Brett Rodda, based in Los Angeles, represents both buy-side and sell-side mandates in tender offers, one-step mergers, stock purchases, and asset deals. Chicago-based Erika López advises private equity sponsors and companies, both private and public, on a variety of transactional matters. Jenny Liu joined the firm in August 2025, working out of the New York and Palo Alto offices.

King & Spalding‘s private equity team maintains a strong market position, with a proven track record in private equity buyouts and public and private M&A. The practice handles private equity and M&A transactions across energy and infrastructure, industrial and manufacturing, and healthcare and life sciences. Spearheading the practice out of New York is Jonathan Melmed, who has deep experience in SPAC matters across a range of industries. Fellow Atlanta-based co-head Rahul Patel specializes in M&A, joint ventures, and control and non-control transactions, acting as a key advisor for UPS. They are joined by Washington DC-based Aaron Hullman, who focuses on renewable energy projects within private equity, and New York-based Adam Hankiss, who is well-versed in private equity deals across the energy, infrastructure, natural resources, and telecommunications industries. Also based in New York is Enrico Granata, who represents public and private corporate clients, private equity funds, and hedge funds in contested transactions in regulated and non-regulated industries. Another key name is Houston’s Jason Peters.

With private equity teams across the US, China, Japan, Singapore, the UK, and Germany, Morrison Foerster is well-positioned to handle a range of multi-jurisdictional private equity transactions. The team represents clients across food and agriculture, technology, industrial, business services, government contracting, and defense. Practice head Patrick Huard is based in Oakland, and advises technology and consumer sector-focused private equity companies on high-stakes corporate matters, including representing HG Capital in the sale of FTreasury to Ripple. He is joined by New York-based Omar Pringle, who represented Paine Schwart Partners in its investment in Chex Finer Foods. Mitchell Presser brings a dedicated understanding of sustainable food chain investing, while Erik Knudsen‘s industry experience spans healthcare, technology, industrial, and business services. Other key names include Tyler Sewell, who focuses on private equity in aerospace, defense, and government contracts, and James Lee, who joined the firm in March 2025 from Proskauer Rose LLP.

Reed Smith LLP‘s private equity team is instructed on a variety of national and international upper-middle-market transactions, including high-value private equity buyouts that drive portfolio growth and long-term value. Practice head Mark Pedretti is based in New York and advises a full spectrum of clients in relation to various public equity transactions. Chicago-based co-head Bradley Schmarak represents numerous publicly traded companies, private equity funds, and privately held businesses. New York’s co-head, Christopher Sheaffer‘s clients include private equity funds, institutional investors, family offices, and strategic companies. Also based in New York is Anatoliy Rozental, who specializes in domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions and private equity transactions. Matthew Mohn, who works out of Pittsburgh, represents growth equity and venture capital funds in their investments, portfolio oversight, and exit transactions. Another key name is Nicholas Gibson, who advises across the full spectrum of M&A, private equity, and general corporate matters.

Winston Taylor offers a comprehensive private equity practice, enabling the team to advise on a range of transactions, including consumer brand acquisitions and exits, industrial manufacturing platform transactions, enterprise software investments, and business service roll-ups and exits. Clients include private and public companies, sponsors, and investors in complex merger and acquisition transactions. The practice is led by Dallas-based Matthew Stockstill, who represents private equity funds, individual and institutional investors, and family offices. Chicago co-head Brian Schafer represents public and private equity firms in capital market transactions, while Timothy Kincaid handles buy and sell-side mandates in the healthcare, life sciences, education, and financial services industries. New York co-head Bradley Vaiana advises on the implementation and execution of exit strategies through divestitures, public offerings, and recapitalization. Based in Los Angeles, Eva Davis focuses on initial private equity investments and financings, while Dallas-based David Lange is instructed by energy, hospitality, business services, manufacturing, technology, and healthcare clients. Another key name is Brendan Mace, who advises clients on initial acquisitions, company management, and exit transactions.

A&O Shearman advises global and middle market sponsors, portfolio companies, and institutional investors across a range of private equity transactions, with key strengths in preferred equity and hybrid capital solutions. The team is led by Dallas-based Alain Dermarkar, who regularly advises clients across various industries, including technology, manufacturing, aerospace, environmental, construction, healthcare, and consumer products. Kfir Abutbul, based in New York, handles cross-border transactions, innovative capital solutions, and preferred equity investments. Meanwhile, fellow New Yorker Romain Dambre covers both domestic and cross-border private equity transactions. Based in Dallas, Robert Cardone advised Datassential in its acquisition of Brozo FoodMetrics, and Kyle Park assists strategic corporate clients while managing add-on and divestiture transactions for portfolio companies.

Akin provides full-spectrum transactional support across private equity matters, with notable strength in the technology, healthcare, energy, and consumer industries. Their private equity team is integrated with their corporate, tax, finance, regulatory, and restructuring teams, enabling them to manage leveraged buyouts, growth equity investments, minority investments, and complex cross-border transactions. New York-based practice head Zachary Wittenberg focuses on restructuring in distressed and special situations, and represented Blackstone in connection with Centric Brands’ restructuring and emergence from voluntary Chapter 11 proceedings, while fellow co-head Sergio Urias has extensive experience in Latin America-based transactions. Texas co-head Thomas Yang guides clients through leveraged buyouts, strategic mergers, carve-outs, and joint ventures. Andy Lehman, based in Houston, advises clients on M&A, joint ventures, and structured equity transactions, while managing equity arrangements. New York-based co-head Amy Wollensack represents private equity funds and their portfolio companies across a range of industries. Other key names include Eli Miller, Elina Alperovich, and Jeff Potash.

Choate, Hall & Stewart's private equity team, based out of Boston, places a strong emphasis on middle-market transactions. The practice collaborates closely with the tax, finance, intellectual property, healthcare, employment, and other departments to manage a diverse range of private equity mandates. The team is led by co-heads Sarah Camougis, who advises private equity funds and companies in the telecommunications, media, and technology sectors, and Mark DeFeo, who is called upon to assist private equity funds with buyouts and growth equity financing. Lee Feldman is instructed by software and technology, healthcare, business services, and financial services clients, while T.J. Murphy advises middle-market private equity funds across a range of industries. Brian Lenihan assists private technology companies on corporate transactions, Daniel Riley advises global middle-market investment funds on investments and acquisitions, and Chris Henry represents clients across technology and software, consumer products, professional services, and publishing and media in private equity-related transactions.

With an international network and strong connections in Latin America, the Holland & Knight private equity team excels particularly in the middle market arena, with a strong focus on the healthcare industry. The firm extended its offerings in the US with the opening of its Seattle office in April 2025. The team is jointly led out of Florida by Aaron Slavens, who specializes in the representations and warranties insurance practice, and David Barkus, who represented CallCabinet in its sale to Smarsh, a portfolio company of K1 Investment Management. Based in Newport Beach, Bryan Gadol represents clients across technology, consumer products, beauty, medical devices, and manufacturing industries, and advises Lucky Scent in its sale to Monogram Capital. Charlotte-based Richard Bange III was instructed by Falfurrias Capital Partners in connection with a growth investment in Oddball. Meanwhile, Chattanooga-based Roddy Bailey, experienced in mergers and acquisitions and securities, represented Avenue Home Care and a portfolio company of Capital Alignment Partners in its add-on acquisition of Clear Path Home Care. Another key name is Jordan Taylor, based in Miami.

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer was formed following the merger between Herbert Smith Freehills and Kramer Levin in June 2025. Ernest Wechsler leads the private equity practice at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, with extensive experience representing private equity sponsors, portfolio companies, and strategic acquirers and sellers across financial services, technology, manufacturing, consumer products, and energy. He is joined by Howard Spilko, who is prepared to handle the strategic use of representations and warranties insurance in acquisitions and related claims. Adi Herman advises clients on cross-border transactions involving European, Israeli, and other international markets, while Jonathan Goodman focuses on middle-market corporate investment transactions. Another key name is Christian Witzke, whose work spans a range of industries. All lawyers mentioned above are based in New York.

McGuireWoods LLP‘s private equity team works closely with its tax, technology, intellectual property, environmental, real estate, and labor practices. The team is notably strong in healthcare private equity due to its dedicated team in this area. Practice head Thomas Zahn is based in Pittsburgh and advises clients, including Revelstoke Capital and Assured Investment Management, on private equity-backed corporate transactions. He is joined by Dallas-based Jon Finger, who advises clients in the healthcare and pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, technology, telecommunications, and financial services, and Jeff Brooker, who acts as general counsel to private companies, assisting them with debt and equity financings. Geoffrey Cockrell and Gregory Hawver are both based in Chicago, with Cockrell representing private equity sponsors in the healthcare provider services industry, while Hawver advises clients across the energy, healthcare, automotive, aerospace, and manufacturing industries.

Clifford Chance utilises their global network to advise asset managers and financial investors on US and multijurisdictional acquisitions, disposals, equity, and co-investment arrangements. The team has particular strength in the sports sector focused private equity deals. Spearheading the team is practice head Neil Barlow, who advises clients on US domestic buyouts, US clients investing in Europe, and European and Asian clients investing in the US. Fellow co-head Kevin Lahpamer represents asset managers and sovereign wealth funds on M&A matters and assisted Masco Group in the acquisition of Techniserv. Another key name includes Carla Ruggero.

Freshfields' private equity team specializes in middle-market transactions across the life sciences, financial services, healthcare, and energy industries. The practice is led by a trio of lawyers out of Freshfields' New York office. Neal Reenan advises clients on multi-jurisdictional negotiations, bespoke capital solutions, carve-outs, and governance arrangements. Ian Bushner handles a mix of legal, commercial, and regulatory issues, and Claire James focuses on middle-market buyouts, joint ventures, and commercial and governance arrangements. In February 2025, the team was expanded with the hiring of Matthew Goulding, who is based in Boston and oversees sponsor-side negotiations in the middle-market space.

Greenberg Traurig‘s private equity team advises regional, national, and global private equity firms on acquisitions, dispositions, financing transactions, and fund formation. The practice represents sponsors, funds, lenders, and borrowers across various leveraged finance transactions. Practice head Bruce March leads the team from Fort Lauderdale, and counsels public and private companies, family-owned businesses, and portfolio companies. New York-based co-head Ejim Achi represents private equity sponsors across technology, healthcare, business services, consumer goods, and infrastructure. They are joined by Miami-based Daniella Silberstein, who represents clients in corporate governance matters and defends clients against hostile takeovers and proxy contests. Other key team names include Ron Birnkrant and Mark Kelson.

K&L Gates represents private equity firms across a broad range of sectors and asset classes. The Charlotte-based team advises clients on matters concerning various industries. Practice head Rick Giovannelli represents buyers and sellers, and financial sponsors in complex buyouts, recapitalizations, and growth investments. Kevin Stichter represents multinational public companies in cross-border acquisitions, while John Blair focuses on structuring and negotiating leveraged buyouts, growth equity investments, and joint venture agreements. Another key team member is Mary Scott Kennedy, who focuses on mezzanine finance transactions and corporate law matters.

Massumi + Consoli LLP spans California, New York, and Dallas, with a core focus on private equity upper-middle-market transactions. The team is jointly led by Los Angeles-based Peter Massumi and Dallas-based Anthony Consoli, who both lead a range of private equity transactions across various industries. Michael Young, who is based in Los Angeles, advises public and private companies on private equity transactions and corporate and governance matters. New York’s Nathan Sawyer advises private equity firms and their portfolio companies on growth equity investments, structured equity investments, and other complex transactions. The practice has continued to expand its offerings with several new hires, including Gregory Cage from Goodwin and Dov Kogen from Kirkland & Ellis LLP in March 2025, and Negin Nazemi from Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP in May 2025.  Daniel Dubelman in Los Angeles is also a key figure.

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe‘s private equity team advises various private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies across the technology, life sciences, energy, and infrastructure industries. The team utilises its global network to successfully advise on cross-border matters. Practice head David Ruff is based in New York and advises a broad range of public equity funds and public and private technology, energy, and life sciences companies. Washington DC-based Tony Chan represents private equity and strategic clients in the life sciences, healthcare, investment management, and technology sectors, while Ken Wiggs, who works out of Miami, advises public and private companies, private equity funds, family offices, and other private investment funds on complex corporate transactions. Danny Lopez left the firm in March 2025.

The private equity practice at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP is well integrated with the firm’s corporate offering, allowing it to successfully advise private equity sponsors and other financial investors and companies receiving investments. New York-based Adam Rachlis, advises clients on leveraged buyouts, control and minority investments, divestitures, carve-outs, and equity financing. Nicole Islinger, who works out of Washington DC has extensive experience across the government contracting and technology industries, while Northern Virginia’s Matthew Swartz advises middle-market technology companies, investment funds, and family funds. Jarrod Murphy left the firm in September 2025. Stephen Amdur has left the firm.

Proskauer Rose LLP‘s comprehensive private equity practice advises clients across various industries, including technology, healthcare, real estate, life sciences, and consumer goods. Practice head Michael Ellis is based in New York and advises boards and executive teams through all stages of the merger and acquisition process. He is joined by fellow New York-based co-heads Daniel Ganitsky and Sarah Stasny, who joined the team in June 2025, bringing the team experience in competitive auctions, negotiating shareholder governance, and structuring the sell-side process. Kristian Herrmann focuses on the sports industry, advising sports leagues and financial investors on the management of their portfolio companies. Christopher Ahn has niche experience in non-traditional equity transactions, including debt-like preferred equity as a third party, equity kickers, and co-investments for private creditor investors. Lauren Boglivi has stepped down as practice head, but remains a key figure in the team. Another key name is Ben Orlanski.

Troutman Pepper Locke LLP advises private equity firms buying and selling portfolio companies, and representing management teams in companies trying to secure equity backing from private equity sponsors. The newly formed team is led by Paul Mahoney, who is based out of Providence and advises clients of middle and lower-middle-market private equity funds, and Atlanta-based David Ghegan. Philadelphia’s Bruce Fenton‘s clients include fund sponsors, and strategic buyers, and their portfolio companies, while Wilmington-based Matthew Greenberg brings experience in corporate carve-out and distressed transactions. They are joined by Alec Watson, based in Charlotte; Michael Newquist, based in Providence; and Greg Heath.