Department profile
Debevoise & Plimpton LLP

Investment Funds: Private Equity

UK Guide 2026 : UK-wide

Share profile

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP

Rankings

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Investment Funds: Private Equity - UK-wide

Band 2

What the Team is Known For
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.
View ranking table

Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • Regarding private equity, Debevoise & Plimpton advised Fitzwalter Capital regarding the raising of the client's Fitzwalter Capital Partners II fund to approximately USD1.4 billion.

  • Regarding secondaries, Debevoise & Plimpton acted as counsel to Pantheon Ventures as a lead investor alongside AlpInvest and TPG GP Solutions in a continuation fund sponsored by IK Partners regarding the purchase of Yellow Hive.

  • Regarding credit funds, Debevoise & Plimpton assisted LCM Capital with the formation and fundraising of LCM Credit Opportunities 5.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • They are very responsive and provide a high level of service.

    Investment Funds: Private Equity respondentUK

  • They go above and beyond and their willingness to explain the process is second to none. They have cross-border expertise as well. They are super user-friendly, flexible and responsive.

    Investment Funds: Private Equity respondentUK

  • Debevoise & Plimpton have super-smart lawyers. Their fund lawyers are outstanding.

    Investment Funds: Private Equity respondentUK

  • Debevoise & Plimpton are very clever, knowledgeable, good at advising, very responsive and do it in a calm and collected way.

    Investment Funds: Private Equity respondentUK

  • The firm's partners have excellent knowledge of all of the main and nuanced negotiating points of a major fundraise and are very experienced in dealing with many of the world's top investors.

    Investment Funds: Private Equity respondentUK

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Geoffrey Kittredge
    Geoffrey Kittredge

    Geoffrey Kittredge

    Geoffrey Kittredge is US-qualified and is able to advise clients on US regulatory and compliance issues, as well as European regulatory matters. He advises sponsors on the formation of international private equity and credit funds.

    • He is the best private funds lawyer in Europe. He is a pre-eminent individual who has experience, commercial knowledge and excellent client care skills.

      Investment Funds: Private Equity respondentUK

    • Geoffrey Kittredge is excellent.

      Investment Funds: Private Equity respondentUK

    • Geoff is extremely knowledgeable and experienced for all private equity matters and projects.

      Investment Funds: Private Equity respondentUK
    View profile
  • John Rife
    John Rife

    John Rife

    John Rife is highlighted for his experience in forming European and emerging market buyout and credit funds. He can also assist on secondary transactions.

    • John Rife is a fantastic lawyer who is excellent technically.

      Investment Funds: Private Equity respondentUK

    • John is a fantastic lawyer. He is very strong, commercially focused and can quickly come up with solutions to complex or novel issues.

      Investment Funds: Private Equity respondentUK

    • John Rife is calm under pressure and often shares a lot of his market insights with us.

      Investment Funds: Private Equity respondentUK
    View profile
  • Shawn D'Aguiar
    Shawn D'Aguiar

    Shawn D'Aguiar

    Shawn D'Aguiar regularly assists clients with the formation and management of private equity funds, with additional expertise in debt and credit funds.

    • Shawn D'Aguiar is an incredible legal innovator. He has great knowledge. He deals with complex situations with grace and calmness.

      Investment Funds: Private Equity respondentUK

    • Shadwn is diligent and thorough. He can leverage tax and regulatory cross-expertise.

      Investment Funds: Private Equity respondentUK

    • He is a great motivator of junior team members. He has very astute technical and drafting skills. He can think on his feet very quickly.

      Investment Funds: Private Equity respondentUK
    View profile
  • Katherine Ashton
    Katherine Ashton

    Katherine Ashton

    Katherine Ashton advises clients in secondaries matters both domestically and internationally. She offers expertise in acquisitions, continuation funds and sales.

    View profile
  • Matthew Dickman
    Matthew Dickman

    Matthew Dickman

    Matthew Dickman enjoys a burgeoning practice in the private equity and secondaries space. He frequently advises both new entrants to the market and long-established European and US investment managers on flagship fund formation and launches.

    • Matthew is always a steady hand in complex deals and his levelheaded and calm approach helps focus the team and get to closing in a positive way with counterparties.

      Investment Funds: Private Equity respondentUK

    • Matthew is a superstar lawyer. His knowledge of all types of investment structures and the market terms are incredibly significant. He is super commercial and client-friendly.

      Investment Funds: Private Equity respondentUK

    • Matthew will find solutions when no one else can. His client management is really refreshing. His natural intelligence and client care is really strong.

      Investment Funds: Private Equity respondentUK
    View profile

Ranked Individuals at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP (8)

UK-wide

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP has rankings in the following guides

What success is built on

Chambers is the leading data and intelligence partner for the legal sector.

Explore thought leadership