Investment Funds: Private Equity: Secondaries | UK

A commanding force in the private equity space, Kirkland & Ellis handles an exceptional volume of high-profile formation work. Its funds group is well versed in raising for buyout funds, funds of funds real estate and infrastructure funds, as well as large secondary transactions. The firm represents a large number of the leading European asset managers and private equity sponsors. Its practice is complemented by tax, regulatory, securities and ERISA expertise at the firm. The department is also able to draw on the experience of a wide range of international teams to assist on cross-border matters for global clients. Kirkland & Ellis has enjoyed notable growth in its real estate funds capabilities in recent years.

Proskauer Rose has an impressive global client base consisting of sponsors and institutional investors. The team maintains a standout buyout fund formation practice as well as a flourishing buy and sell-side secondaries practice that acts for some of the largest funds of funds. The firm is also notable for its work relating to debt and venture funds.

Stephenson Harwood boasts an impressive deal flow, combined with an enviable client list and a deep bench of specialists, which justifies a strong international reputation for both its closed-ended listed funds group and private equity secondaries team. It acts for the bulge bracket investment banks, brokers and investment trusts on listings, placings and complex secondary offerings. The firm enjoys plaudits for its distinguished GP-led transactional practice, in addition to its renowned investor-side prowess. The team is also well versed in real estate fund matters and has notable regulatory expertise.

Akin has a notable private funds group that advises on hedge and private equity fund formation, as well as advice on regulation. The team has broad experience across an array of asset classes, including real estate, infrastructure and credit. It comes highly recommended in the hedge fund space, where it boasts deep expertise in US and EU regulations, tax and complex restructurings. Akin also advises many large alternative asset managers as well as startups.

With a dominant private funds group, Clifford Chance has expertise across the range of structures and asset classes. The team is well known for debt, real asset and upper mid-market private equity fund formation work, and especially for its market-leading real estate debt offering. The firm's global resources are fully utilised by the London team, which is able to offer advice to clients from around the world. It acts for an impressive list of clients, including high-profile UK, European and global fund managers.

Debevoise & Plimpton has a strong private equity funds practice that is regularly called upon for large pan-European formations by managers, large secondary transactions for buyers or sellers, and complex alternative capital raises. Debevoise's funds team also has additional experience in acting for investors in private funds. Funds targeting assets in emerging markets continue to be a core focus for the department, which offers sponsors full compliance and tax advice for both the US and EU regulatory landscapes.

Fried Frank frequently advises clients on fund formation matters across a broad spectrum of asset classes. The team is adept at advising on a wide array of fund work, from fundraisings and acquisitions to secondary investments and co-investments. The London office is able to leverage the firm's strong New York funds offering to advise its client base of European alternative asset managers and private equity sponsors.

Goodwin has a strong presence in the London real estate funds market, with a bench of respected specialists and an ever-increasing workload of European formation matters. The team also offers a notable team of experts in the private equity funds sphere. With the additional strength of the firm's sizeable US platform, Goodwin offers a full service for leading real estate managers looking for transatlantic coverage and expertise. The team is also adept in handling everything from fund establishment to restructurings and closures.

Hogan Lovells has a strong real assets funds practice with extensive expertise in fund formation and a core focus on infrastructure funds. It regularly advises clients investing in social infrastructure and other PPP assets. The team receives instructions from institutional managers, cornerstone investors and large brokers, and is as well versed in listed closed-ended structures as in traditional private funds.

Ropes & Gray offers clients considerable expertise in secondaries transactions. The team is adept at advising on international matters including recapitalisation, sales and restructuring.

Among the dominant forces in the big-ticket buyout space, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett exclusively handles the largest European fund formation mandates. The funds team offers managers an excellent platform for multibillion-pound launches in London, with innovative structuring solutions. Additional areas of expertise include secondaries transactions. Its enviable client list includes the largest US and European private equity firms, and the department continues to advise these clients on their most significant fundraisings.