Kirkland & Ellis International LLP continues to handle numerous high value fund closings, representing a vast array of private investment fund sponsors worldwide, alongside a booming secondaries practice. The team is led by Richard Watkins, who is recommended for his handling of complex private fund structuring and related transactional work, including multiple liquidity related transactions. Watkins is supported by a strong bench, including credit, real estate and private equity fund formation expert Anand Damodaran, the liquidity transactions focused Andrew Shore, and levered and unlevered parallel arrangement structures specialist Amala Ejikeme. Theodore Cardos is another central name in the team, offering expertise in synthetic and stapled secondary offerings as well as other transactional forms. Amy Fox, Aleksander Bakic and Catherine Gokah are all also integral team members who are noted for their expertise in the private funds space.

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP assists clients with multiple high profile fundraisings in the European market, with notable clients including Blackstone Inc and CVC. The firm is recommended for its GP minority stakes work and liquidity solutions advice. Key names in the practice include the highly experienced Jason Glover, tech and financial services funds expert Gareth Earl, and buyout and impact focused funds specialist Seema Shah. Robert Lee, who primarily acts for major investment organisation EQT, and the alternative strategies focused Owen Lysak are also integral to the team. Dan Lloyd has deep expertise in fundraisings, while James Board has broad knowledge of direct lending fund formation issues. Beth Cowen was promoted to partner in 2022, regularly advising on liquidity features, while GP-led secondaries expert Edward Ford joined the firm from Travers Smith LLP.

Clifford Chance LLP acts on behalf of a range of high profile funds and boasts a large secondary transactions offering. The firm houses a specialist private equity and infrastructure funds sub-practice, and is known for its strong reputation in that space. The team is jointly led by Alexandra Davidson who specialises in advising sponsors on the establishment, structuring and offering of private funds, and Gerard Saviola, who is an expert on developing markets. Lily Marcel has deep expertise in sustainability and infrastructure funds and is also central to the team, as are the global fund structuring and private debt focused Jonathan Bray, and blind-pool funds and secondary transactions specialist Alexander Chester. Senior associate Vishal Mashru is also highly recommended, advising on a range of areas, including clean energy funds and growth capital.

Advising a diverse range of financial services clients, Debevoise & Plimpton LLP is noted for handling traditional fundraising as well as alternative capital raising issues. The team is led by Geoffrey Kittredge, who has longstanding expertise in fund formation. Also recommended is Matthew Dickman, who advises on the management and reorganisation of private investment funds, as well as secondary transactions, regulatory compliance, and internal economic and governance matters. Co-investments and GP-led fund restructuring expert John Rife is also a key name. John Anderson constributes in-house experience, having worked at Park Square Capital.

Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP  is adept at handling private equity and infrastructure fund related work. The firm leverages its global presence and large international funds team to act in numerous cross border mandates. Jointly leading the practice are Kate Downey, who is experienced in advising asset managers on the structuring and raising of global and European-focused investment funds across a range of asset classes, and Mark Mifsud, who advises on secondaries and fund formation across a variety of areas such as energy, infrastructure and debt. David Christmas, Piers Harris and special counsel Karen Henderson are key names within team. Associate Athena Tan is recommended for work in the infrastructure, renewables, private equity and credit spaces.

Goodwin regularly handles large scale fund structuring, raising and closing matters across a range of funds, including private equity, venture capital, real estate, infrastructure and debt. The practice is led by Michael Halford, who specialises in advising managers and investors on private equity and investment fund structuring. Also key are infrastructure private equity expert Ed Hall, private debt and infrastructure and energy funds specialist Shawn D’Aguiar and the fund regulation and management focused Ajay Pathak. Ravi Chopra is a key name of note within the team, and Benjamin Yeoh was promoted to partner in October 2022.

Linklaters LLP assists a broad client base of cornerstone investors with mandates involving private equity, real estate, infrastructure and credit strategies, and houses a thriving ESG practice. The team is led by Matt Keogh  has a great deal of experience in advising on the structuring and management of funds as well as private equity style joint ventures, fund financings. Rahul Manvatkar regularly acts for both sponsors and investors, and Clare Baker is noted for her expertise in sovereign wealth funds. Managing associate and venture capital specialist Ben Jennings, and counsel Amin Ebrahim are key names within the practice.

Proskauer Rose LLP handles a broad spectrum fund formation issues, in addition to funds-related transactional matters involving acquisitions of asset management companies, investments in fund management companies, seed transactions and funds-of-funds. The team primarily acts for European clients. Practice head Nigel van Zyl  specialises in assisting buyers and sellers of secondary fund interests, and advising on the structuring of transactions concerning continuation funds.. Venture capital expert Edward Lee and infrastructure funds specialist Peter Olds are key names of note. Jordan Hurwitz and Bruno Bertrand-Delfau are noted for their focus on secondaries. Aranpreet Randhawa and Christopher Elson are highly recommended, as are special counsels Lucie Rose and Nicholas Rose.

Weil, Gotshal & Manges (London) LLP advises on numerous fundraisings, in addition to ongoing fund management issues for a varied range of clients, which notably includes Oakley, Actis, and decarbonisation fund Just Climate. The team is led by the highly experienced Ed Gander, recommended for his expertise in raising venture capital, private equity, infrastructure, real estate, impact and credit funds. GP stake transactions and GP led secondaries expert James Bromley, and co-investments specialist Stephen Fox are also essential to the team. Further key names include James Sargent, whose areas of expertise include continuation funds and fund recapitalisation processes, and Marc Schubert, who is noted for his regulatory expertise. Jacquelyn Volpe was promoted to partner in January 2023.

Akin provides a diverse offering covering a range of funds, including buyout, growth, venture, credit, infrastructure and real estate. The practice is particularly recommended for its expertise in advising sovereign wealth funds and debt credit funds. The team is headed by buyout and green energy funds specialist Daniel Quinn. John Daghlian is an expert in private equity funds, and Mary Lavelle  has broad knowledge spanning fund formations and secondary transactions. Associate Qasam Mahmood has deep expertise in ongoing fund management, as well as formation and structuring.

Allen & Overy LLP is known for its specialist institutional investor sub-practice, which represents a number of institutional investors on their investments into private funds, including private equity, hedge and special situation funds. The firm also acts for private capital investors, including both GPs and LPs. Practice head Matt Huggett  has deep expertise in fund formation issues, particularly regarding environmental impact funds. Real estate funds expert Dominic Von Wulffen, and ESG specialist Emma Danforth are key names within the team. Nick Williams primarily focuses on infrastructure funds, and MaameYaa Kwafo-Akoto has notable experience in advising sovereign wealth funds.

Ashurst maintains a broad private funds offering, spanning real estate, private equity, debt and credit funds and secondary transactions. The team is is led by the experienced Nick Goddard and includes Piers Warburton, who has longstanding experience in leading major fund-raising projects, as well as investment management expert Nicola Hopkins. Associate Donald Corbett is also recommended.

Paul Hastings LLP stands out for handling high value debt structures, as well as assisting with credit and direct funds. The group offers niche expertise in risk retention fund issues, an area in which Christian Parker is a specialist. Parker leads the team alongside credit and debt funds focused Diala Minott, and fund restructuring and spin-out expert Duncan Woollard. Ted Craig  has deep experience in fund formation as well as GPs and secondary transactions.

Reed Smith LLP handles a range of fund formation, managed account and investment matters for investment managers, and demonstrates particular skill in impact, litigation and digital infrastructure funds work. The team is jointly led by private equity specialist Panos Katsambas, who is dual qualified in the UK and US, and Shervin Shameli, who is recommended for his work in the energy space. The ‘hugely knowledgeable and helpful’ Brendan Gallen, experienced in credit impact and real estate funds, is also a core part of the team.

Ropes & Gray handles a wide range of mandates spanning GP and LP led matters, fund formation and transactions within the secondaries market. The team is led by the highly experienced Tom Alabaster, whose primary focus is on the EMEA markets. Alabaster is supported by Emily Brown, who has expansive expertise in cross-jurisdictional matters, specialising in venture capital and co-investments. Counsels Lavanya Raghavan, Chris Townsend and Alex Chauvin are also integral to the team.

Baker McKenzie acts for a diverse client base of prominent fund sponsors, institutional investors and financial institutions. The group advises on a broad spectrum of fund structures, including blind pool funds, club deals, co-investments, consortium arrangements and separate managed accounts. Practice head James Burdett is recommended for broad knowledge of consortium and co-investment arrangements within the infrastructure and real estate sectors. Asset management sector expert Mark Simpson and regulatory specialist Caitlin McErlane are key names within the practice.

Dechert LLP‘s funds team is recommended for its handling of first-time private equity fund launches and its cross-jurisdictional capability, in close cooperation between the London practice and the firm’s Luxembourg and Ireland teams. Practice head Gus Black is an expert in private equity, private credit and private real estate fund formation and secondaries. Black is supported by ‘great legal mind’ Christopher Gardner, the experienced Thiha Tun and Marianna Tothova, who is dual qualified in England and Wales, and Luxembourg. The firm recently expanded its practice with the addition of Sam Kay, a private equity funds specialist who joined the team from Travers Smith LLP in July 2023.

DLA Piper‘s private funds practice is headed up by James O’Donnell, a funds related transactions expert noted by clients for his ‘excellent technical skills‘ and advice ‘of the highest quality‘. He is supported by the fund establishment and structuring focused Jonathan Powling and private equity and tax specialist Richard Woolich. Up-and-coming practitioners to note at the firm include the ‘stand out‘ Hannah Watson-Fanin, who focuses on institutional investors, private equity expert Michael Graham and Sam Whittaker, who is notable for his multijurisdictional experience, having advised clients in areas such as the Cayman Islands and Jersey. The firm is recommended for its ESG related work, handling investments into climate technologies and sustainable agriculture.

Hogan Lovells International LLP's team is known for its strengths in advising on issues concerning infrastructure funds, as well as venture capital, private equity and impact funds, with notable clients including Abrdn and FMO. Practice head Nicholas Holman is recommended for his 'excellent technical and market knowledge'. Jeremy Pickles has ample experience in both fund formation and GP-led secondaries. Amelia Stawpert and Leanne Moezi are notable names within the team.

Latham & Watkins is recommended for fund formation, JVs & strategic partnerships, secondaries and investor representation, acting for a host of high-profile international clients. The practice notably includes tech sector funds specialist James McCrory, and Nick Benson, who has experience across the buyout, venture, technology, infrastructure, and credit spaces. Counsel Clare Scott is also highly recommended, offering particular expertise in sovereign wealth funds and green and climate investment funds. Mateja Maher and Adrian Grocock joined the team from Sidley Austin LLP in July 2023.

Macfarlanes LLP stands out for its strength in advising on high value fundraisings in relation to credit and special situation funds. Growth and impact funds are also areas of expertise for the team, with the firm’s cross-practice ESG group being a key feature of its offering. Practice head Stephen Ross, who joined the firm from Sidley Austin LLP in January 2023, specialises in advising on structuring private equity, venture capital and infrastructure funds. Robinson is supported by the ‘highly professional, responsive and thoughtful’ Harriet Miller, as well as Sam Brooks, a specialist in credit funds. Christopher Good and Alexander Amos are also key names within the team. The firm further strengthened its bench with the addition of Peter Chapman as a partner in September 2023, also from Sidley.

Known for its deep expertise in general fund structuring and asset management issues, Pinsent Masons LLP is noted for advising impact funds which are focused on investment into sustainable agriculture and climate tech. The team is headed by impact fund formation and development finance expert Ian Warner. Oliver Crowley is well versed in handling fund structuring matters across a variety of asset classes. Mark Shaw is qualified to practice in Luxembourg, and is a key name to note.

Sidley Austin LLP‘s investment funds practice dispenses advice on a wide range of private equity and credit strategies, including distressed debt, funding solutions, speciality lending, and litigation funding. The team is led by James Oussedik, who has vast knowledge of private fund formation issues concerning hedge funds and infrastructure funds.  Mateja Maher and Adrian Grocock left the firm to join Latham & Watkins in July 2023.

Willkie Farr & Gallagher (UK) LLP's practice is noted for handling a myriad of issues involving private equity fund formation, single asset funds, LP side representation and secondary transactions. The team is led by secondaries specialist Solomon Wifa, who has experience handling transactions involving multiple jurisdictions including China, sub-Saharan Africa, India, Turkey, and Central and Eastern Europe. Regulatory expert Henrietta de Salis and the 'commercial and organised' Colin Fulton, who primarily advises private investment fund sponsors, are also core members of the team.

Addleshaw Goddard is described by clients as the 'go-to' team for small to mid-market RE and PE managers. Daniel Woolston is noted for his expertise in private equity and real estate funds. Woolston co-heads the team alongside Jan Grüter, who is recommended for advising on the raising of sustainability-focused funds and related investment products, as well as emerging GPs within the PE space. Aidan McConville is a key name within the practice.

Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP acts for numerous sponsors and asset managers in matters concerning the structuring, formation and promotion of investment funds across various asset classes, with emphasis on real estate funds. Practice head Michael Newel has vast expertise in advising asset management clients on the establishment and reorganization of onshore and offshore collective investment vehicles. Jack Andrew Kelly is a key name within the practice.

Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP houses a 'responsive, thorough and approachable' funds team, which handles the full spectrum of issues clients, including state backed investors, banks and energy and tech funds. Thomas Laurer and Ryan Hansen, who are experienced in domestic and offshore fund formation and regulatory compliance, jointly lead the team. Practice co-head Daniel Lewin is a tax law expert who primarily advises on the tax aspects of funds.

Recommended for dispensing ‘technically sound’ advice, Herbert Smith Freehills LLP‘s team is well versed in handling GP-side and LP-side matters for sovereign wealth funds. The firm exhibits deep knowledge in infrastructure funds and energy sector related work. The practice is led by Tim West, and Jonathan Blake and Stephen Newby are also recommended.

Recommended for advising clients on complex private equity fund structures as well as spin outs, K&L Gates LLP is led by Daniel Greenaway who leverages his prior experience working in the tax field to advise GPs on impact-linked carried interest structures.

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius UK LLP is known for representing multinational financial institutions as sponsors of funds, investors into funds, co-investors in unquoted companies, and as participants in the secondaries market in relation to purchasing and selling fund interests. The team is led by asset management sector specialist Simon Currie. Currie is supported by venture capital, infrastructure and debt funds expert Robert Mailer as well as the impact funds focused Oliver Rochman .

Schulte Roth & Zabel International LLP is noted for its domestic and transatlantic capabilities. Specialist areas of expertise for the practice include hedge funds and litigation finance funds. The team is led jointly by 'solution orientated' private equity fund structuring specialist Josh Dambacher, and closed-end credit and distressed credit funds expert Christopher Hilditch. The experienced Jim McNally and tax expert Dan Roman are key members of the team.

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP advises a broad client base of asset managers and sovereign wealth funds. Practice head Greg Norman is noted for having a great deal of expertise in private fund capitalization and structuring, as well as the formation and regulation of private capital sponsors, including investment managers and advisers. Wendy Li and Abigail Reeves are key contributors within the team.

Stephenson Harwood's practice which assists a number of clients in secondaries sector across a variety of European jurisdictions. Practice head Gabriel Boghossian is known for his vast experience in advising on secondary transactions, having handled the structuring and negotiation of a high volume of GP-led deals. Sarah de Ste Croix has broad knowledge of fundraisings.