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Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

Investment Funds: Private Equity: Secondaries

UK Guide 2026 : UK-wide

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Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

Rankings

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Investment Funds: Private Equity: Secondaries - UK-wide

Band 2

What the Team is Known For

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.

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Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • Regarding private equity, Simpson Thacher acted as fundraising counsel to Apax Partners regarding its Apax XI fund, which secured commitments of over USD12 billion.

  • Regarding secondaries, Simpson Thacher advised the Trustees of Walgreens Boots Alliance in the sale of the illiquid elements of a pension fund in connection with a buy-in transaction to Legal & General and other secondary buyers.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Simpson Thacher are very good on creative thinking, speed of execution, attention to detail and client service.

    Investment Funds: Private Equity: Secondaries respondentUK

  • They have a deep bench with consistently high quality across the team.

    Investment Funds: Private Equity: Secondaries respondentUK

  • They have a very large experience and the best-in-class market practice, as they handle most of the largest transactions and funds.

    Investment Funds: Private Equity: Secondaries respondentUK

  • The team was creative, responsive and efficient in execution. Their advice was uniformly excellent.

    Investment Funds: Private Equity: Secondaries respondentUK

  • They are our go-to counsel for secondaries. They are the best in the secondaries market. Their knowledge is incredible. They are great for the really complex deals. They make a formidable team.

    Investment Funds: Private Equity: Secondaries respondentUK

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Gareth Earl
    Gareth Earl

    Gareth Earl

    Gareth Earl is deeply experienced in raising international private equity, buyout, growth and real estate funds. He advises market-leading private equity firms on big-ticket fund launches.

    • Gareth is a best-in-class lawyer. He has an extensive knowledge of the regulation, the market and the trends. Gareth is very creative and always ensures we are provided the best service.

      Investment Funds: Private Equity: Secondaries respondentUK

    • Gareth Earl runs the show and always comes across well.

      Investment Funds: Private Equity: Secondaries respondentUK

    • Gareth has very deep sector knowledge, given that Simpson work for basically all major funds. He is very quick.

      Investment Funds: Private Equity: Secondaries respondentUK
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  • Edward Ford
    Edward Ford

    Edward Ford

    Edward Ford co-leads the firm's secondaries team and is noted for his expertise in private equity fund formation and secondaries transactions.

    • Edward provides a great consistent service and a good client relationship.

      Investment Funds: Private Equity: Secondaries respondentUK

    • Edward has a deep knowledge of he fund industry and specifically of the continuation fund market, which has been very useful in the negotiations.

      Investment Funds: Private Equity: Secondaries respondentUK

    • Edward is an excellent lawyer. He is hugely responsive and you can tell he deeply cares about his clients success.

      Investment Funds: Private Equity: Secondaries respondentUK

    • Edward is hugely efficient, always available and has an incredible hunger to deliver for clients and to get deals done.

      Investment Funds: Private Equity: Secondaries respondentUK

    • Edward Ford is brilliant, very experienced in this field and knowledgeable in the secondaries market.

      Investment Funds: Private Equity: Secondaries respondentUK
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  • Sacha Gofton-Salmond
    Sacha Gofton-Salmond

    Sacha Gofton-Salmond

    Sacha Gofton-Salmond is noted for her expertise in private equity fund formation and in both GP and LP-led secondaries transactions.

    • Sacha is the hardest working individual I have ever met in my entire life. She is fantastic and very detail-oriented.

      Investment Funds: Private Equity: Secondaries respondentUK

    • Sacha really goes above and beyond in assisting the client. She is very technically gifted.

      Investment Funds: Private Equity: Secondaries respondentUK

    • Sacha is exceptional. She is our go to for complex or difficult transactions. She is extremely hardworking and always delivers.

      Investment Funds: Private Equity: Secondaries respondentUK

    • Sacha is an excellent lawyer who is very focused on her clients' success.

      Investment Funds: Private Equity: Secondaries respondentUK
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  • Seema Shah
    Seema Shah

    Seema Shah

    Seema Shah acts for leading sponsors on the formation of European private equity funds, including growth and secondaries funds.

    • Seema Shah is a highly experienced partner with excellent commercial and legal skills across a wide range of topics.

      Investment Funds: Private Equity: Secondaries respondentUK

    • Seema has really good command of the subject area and gives good advice.

      Investment Funds: Private Equity: Secondaries respondentUK

    • Seema is confident and easy to work with. She takes the time to understand the client's needs and feels like a true partner.

      Investment Funds: Private Equity: Secondaries respondentUK
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  • James Board
    James Board

    James Board

    James Board co-leads the European evergreen private wealth funds practice at Simpson Thacher. He possesses notable expertise in the credit funds space and regularly acts as fund counsel to major clients. He is also experienced in private equity matters and secondary transactions.

    • James Board is very knowledgeable and personable, He takes a commercial approach when answering questions.

      Investment Funds: Private Equity: Secondaries respondentUK

    • James Board is clearly very knowledgeable on evergreen vehicles.

      Investment Funds: Private Equity: Secondaries respondentUK

    • James understands our priorities and was careful to ensure we got the right level of service, while not overloading us with extra hours. He was always available to answer our key questions.

      Investment Funds: Private Equity: Secondaries respondentUK
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  • Robert Lee
    Robert Lee

    Robert Lee

    Robert Lee has a respected private equity practice and frequently advises clients in all aspects of the formation, operation and closure of funds.

    • Robert is an absolute superstar. He is responsive, reliable, creative and easy to deal with.

      Investment Funds: Private Equity: Secondaries respondentUK

    • Robert is exceptional in fund formation.

      Investment Funds: Private Equity: Secondaries respondentUK
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  • Samuel Brooks
    Samuel Brooks

    Samuel Brooks

    Samuel Brooks is noted for his Europe-focused credit funds practice. He assists clients with debt fund formations and direct lending funds.

    • Samuel has a strong understanding of his asset classes. He is well respected accordingly.

      Investment Funds: Private Equity: Secondaries respondentUK

    • Sam is very thoughtful.

      Investment Funds: Private Equity: Secondaries respondentUK
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Ranked Individuals at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP (7)

UK-wide

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP has rankings in the following guides

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