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Latham & Watkins LLP

Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above

UK Guide 2026 : UK-wide

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Latham & Watkins LLP

Rankings

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above - UK-wide

Band 1

What the Team is Known For

Latham & Watkins maintains a market-leading buyouts practice that is routinely seen handling high-end, cross-border transactions for a host of well-known private equity houses. It offers significant expertise in complementary practice areas, with top-tier strength in financing and high-yield bonds. The department counts upon an extensive international network to provide an integrated practice in global M&A.

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Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • Latham & Watkins advised EQT, CPP Investments and Nord Anglia Education on the USD14.5 billion sale of Nord Anglia Education to a consortium formed by Neuberger Berman Private Markets, EQT and CPP Investments, together with other global institutional investors.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Latham & Watkins has a real depth of talent across all levels and jurisdictions. The firm is very strong globally so it can truly act on a global basis.

    Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above respondentUK

  • The Latham & Watkins team are fantastic. They are incredibly commercial and practical.

    Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above respondentUK

  • Latham & Watkins has a very strong team who are highly adept at dealing with complex regulatory and deal issues.

    Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above respondentUK

  • The Latham & Watkins team are extremely responsive and provide high-quality advice.

    Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above respondentUK

  • The firm has highly experienced and extremely thorough advisers who secure the right outcomes for their clients by way of pragmatic problem-solving and practical advice.

    Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above respondentUK

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • David Walker
    David Walker

    David Walker

    David Walker is widely regarded as a luminary in this space, garnering acclaim for his leading knowledge of high-stakes private equity deals. His stable of clients includes significant sponsors.

    • David is an excellent and highly experienced lawyer who is a go-to on any complex deal.

      Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above respondentUK

    • David and his team are right at the edge of what's currently in the market. They are very nimble, very effective and very easy to work with.

      Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above respondentUK
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  • Kem Ihenacho
    Kem Ihenacho

    Kem Ihenacho

    Kem Ihenacho possesses deep experience in handling high-level transactions on behalf of a client base of prestigious private equity houses. He sits as a member of the firm's Executive Committee.

    • Kem is a very experienced lawyer and a calming influence who has seen it all before. He can help in tricky situations.

      Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above respondentUK

    • Kem is excellent in the tech space. He's a go-to for English law transactions.

      Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above respondentUK

    • Kem is a highly experienced lead lawyer who delivers the full breadth of Latham & Watkins' expertise with great assurance.

      Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above respondentUK
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  • Paul Dolman
    Paul Dolman

    Paul Dolman

    Paul Dolman is highly regarded for the quality of his representation in private equity transactions. He acts for a stable of well-known private equity houses on deals across a spectrum of industries.

    • Paul's approach is client-centric, very responsive, commercial and down to earth.

      Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above respondentUK

    • Paul is fantastic. He really leads from the front and is all over the detail of his deals. He helps cut through points and can turn around stuff rapidly.

      Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above respondentUK

    • I think Paul is superb, the most effective private equity lawyer in London.

      Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above respondentUK
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  • Tom Evans
    Tom Evans

    Tom Evans

    Tom Evans has an impressive track record of representing private equity houses and their portfolio companies in cross-border deals. He is sought after to advise on M&A and financing arrangements, among other matters.

    • Tom has exceptionally strong execution and is a real partner and asset during negotiations. He finds solutions for the difficult problems others struggle with.

      Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above respondentUK

    • Tom is a master at what he does.

      Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above respondentUK

    • Tom is a super good lawyer.

      Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above respondentUK
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  • Farah O'Brien
    Farah O'Brien

    Farah O'Brien

    Farah O'Brien has extensive experience advising private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies on complex cross-border transactions.

    • She is reassuringly calm and provides brilliant client care.

      Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above respondentUK

    • Farah is very measured, thoughtful and considered with her advice.

      Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above respondentUK

    • Farah is excellent. She is commercial, dedicated and very responsive.

      Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above respondentUK
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  • Ross Allardice
    Ross Allardice

    Ross Allardice

    Ross Allardice is a trusted adviser to private equity houses and their portfolio companies on a range of transactional matters. His practice encompasses both domestic deals and pan-European ones.

    • Ross is an immensely strong lawyer with an incredible depth of experience to draw on in the most complex of transactions. He brings all parties over the line with his focused and pragmatic advice.

      Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above respondentUK

    • Ross is experienced, capable and commercial.

      Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above respondentUK

    • Ross is hands-on and plugged in. He leads from the front.

      Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above respondentUK
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Ranked Individuals at Latham & Watkins LLP (6)

UK-wide

  • Profile image of David Walker

    David Walker

    Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above

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  • Profile image of Kem Ihenacho

    Kem Ihenacho

    Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above

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  • Profile image of Paul Dolman

    Paul Dolman

    Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above

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  • Profile image of Tom Evans

    Tom Evans

    Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above

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  • Profile image of Farah O'Brien

    Farah O'Brien

    Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above

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  • Profile image of Ross Allardice

    Ross Allardice

    Private Equity: Buyouts: £500 million and above

    View profile

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