Investment Funds: Private Equity | Europe

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.

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.

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.

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.

Weil has an exceptional private funds team that is active across EMEA and the USA, offering integrated and holistic fund services in formation, marketing, tax and secondary transactions. Private equity, real estate and infrastructure are the focuses of the team. The department counts large fund managers among its client base.

Ashurst has a noted private funds practice that acts for private equity sponsors on both high-cap and mid-market fund launches. Private equity, infrastructure and credit are among the areas in which the team has strength. It also advises large institutional investors.

Latham & Watkins advises on fundraises for some of the largest funds in the market, while also working with sovereign wealth funds and cornerstone investors. In addition to fund formation, the team advises on co-investments and secondaries matters. Its client base is truly international, receiving instructions from clients in the Middle East, South America and Asia.

Linklaters boasts a comprehensive investment funds group with a global reach, bolstered by significant teams in Luxembourg and Frankfurt. It is regularly called upon to advise on complex and high-value mandates across a broad range of asset classes. The department focuses on real assets and private equity formation, alongside fund restructuring work. It represents some of the largest international asset managers and sovereign wealth funds in both GP and LP mandates. The funds group is known to be a leader in the debt fund space, with an excellent direct lending funds practice.