Private Equity: Fund Formation | USA

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP is highly regarded in the private equity and fund formation market. The firm leverages expertise across a range of industries, with particular strength in the technology and climate sectors. Cleary advises clients on private funds, strategic acquisitions, and secondaries.

Debevoise & Plimpton is in an elite category of private fund practices with a considerable global footprint and an extensive client base of top-tier private equity sponsors. The firm represents all manner of private equity businesses, including some of the largest debt fund managers, with noted activity in the representation of secondary funds in connection with transactions and fundraisings. It is active in all types of investment strategies including buyout, distressed and credit, real estate and infrastructure funds.

Fried, Frank, Harris continues to attract high-caliber sponsors in the real estate, energy, credit and buyout spaces. The firm is valued for the breadth of its fund formation expertise, including infrastructure and growth funds. It is able to offer its expanding client base an integrated service, working closely with its practices in tax, regulatory and employee benefits. It is also noted for its strength in cross-border matters.

Kirkland & Ellis boasts an impressively deep group of private funds specialists noted for their handling of a large volume of fundraisings for prominent high-end and mid-market sponsors. A global footprint ensures that it is well equipped to take on sophisticated matters involving buyout funds and real estate funds, with additional expertise in handling significant secondary transactions. It is noted for its experience of working with a wide array of investors as part of a global platform.

Paul, Weiss has a strong private equity practice counseling elite private equity fund managers on some of the biggest fundraisings in the market. The firm is highly regarded for its experienced structuring of high-end formations, encompassing buyout, distressed and credit funds, among others. It has a strong track record in working with global investors.

The Ropes & Gray team is well known for its excellent representation of sizable sponsor-side clients in a variety of private equity fund formations, including buyout and growth capital funds. It has a proven track record structuring private equity vehicles such as real estate and credit funds.

Simpson Thacher is a prospering private equity practice with comprehensive expertise that spans traditional buyout funds and alternative assets, including real estate, distressed debt and credit. The firm has an unparalleled track record representing some of the largest private equity sponsors in mega fundraisings. It has expertise in financial services, infrastructure and energy funds.

Davis Polk has a well-respected practice with notable experience of advising both sponsors and funds. The firm fields an experienced group of practitioners with longstanding practices in the market, combined with a stellar reputation in the related financial services sector. It is noted for its track record of forming highly focused funds, including those investing in particular sectors or secondary fund interests.

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher offers comprehensive services to fund managers, sponsors and investors in connection with fund formation and operational matters. The firm reives a high influx of secondaries mandates and is regularly called upon to assist with SEC enforcement matters. It advises in connection with multiple asset classes, including buyout, real estate and growth capital, and has added strength in infrastructure, credit, secondary and co-investment funds.

The Latham & Watkins team is expert in structuring all manner of private equity funds, with notable strengths pertaining to energy, power and infrastructure-focused vehicles. They are trusted advisers to private equity sponsors long after the fund formation process, assisting with ongoing compliance, M&A and other corporate issues. The firm continues to enjoy success in attracting a number of major new clients across the USA, with notable depth in credit and debt funds.

Proskauer Rose is an established name in the private equity and venture capital markets. The law firm is lauded for its work on behalf of sponsors, advising on transactions and fund formations that touch a broad range of industries. It boasts equal capabilities in buyout funds as those formed to invest in early-stage businesses. It has a strong international showing, with a noted presence in matters involving the European and Asian markets.

Weil, Gotshal & Manges is a choice destination for midmarket sponsors and larger asset managers seeking to raise mega private equity funds. The firm is valued for its wide experience advising on the structuring of a variety of funds. It has expertise in devising a plethora of innovative private structures that span a diverse range of targets, from buyouts to real estate and infrastructure. A strong global practice enables the team to act for both US and foreign-based sponsors.

Willkie Farr & Gallagher draws on resources in the firm's wider asset management team to provide comprehensive regulatory compliance and fund formation guidance to private equity fund managers large and small. The firm also retains an exclusive client roster of institutional investors and continues to attract new and diverse clients. It has noted strength in the areas of energy and real estate funds.

Akin counts a number of notable investors and sponsors among its longstanding clientele and is noted for its acute insight into emerging market investment trends. The firm is additionally able to assist fund managers with tax structures. It provides vital market perspective gained from representing investors in private equity and hedge vehicles.

Goodwin has a respected asset management practice, which encompasses an assortment of private investment products including private equity, venture capital and real estate funds. The team acts for a diverse client base of domestic and international funds of varying sizes. The law firm is valued for its advice across structuring, management and compliance issues.

McDermott Will & Schulte is well regarded throughout the market for its ability to handle matters related to various funds, including real estate, secondary and buyout funds. The team has considerable experience of assisting on formations related to the healthcare space. Its practitioners are routinely called upon to handle fundraises on behalf of sponsors.

Sidley Austin's team is renowned for its ability to provide counsel on the formation of funds across an array of sectors, including mining, aviation and energy. The group also boasts strong cross-border capabilities. The practitioners have notable experience of assisting on the formation of secondary and buyout funds.

Alston & Bird LLP is sought after for its expertise advising private equity firms on a broad range of fund formation mandates. The firm assists fund managers across a spread of asset classes and fund structures.

Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle's team is held in high regard for its strength in handling issues throughout the life-cycle of a fund, from formation through to investment processes. The team has extensive experience of providing counsel on the formation of a range of funds, including ESG funds, funds-of-funds and venture capital funds. The practitioners are also adept at providing counsel on regulatory compliance.

Day Pitney garners recognition for its investment management and private funds group. The team caters to middle-market clients and offers expertise from their Florida and Miami offices. The law firm also caters to cross-border matters.

DLA Piper has a notably deep team able to call on fund formation experts across the country and internationally. Specific areas of strength include providing counsel on the structuring and formation of real estate and credit funds. The law firm also guides emerging and established managers on the formation of venture funds.

Freshfields US LLP advises its client base on a wide range of fund formation mandates. The firm leverages its expertise to assist private equity clients in forming credit funds, continuation vehicles and secondary funds.

Greenberg Traurig is recognized for its global private funds practice. The team is routinely called upon to represent fund sponsors, sovereign wealth funds and investment managers. The firm has significant expertise advising on cross-border matters.

Hogan Lovells' team demonstrates its ability to advise clients on the formation of a wide spectrum of funds, including buyout and debt funds. The team has notable strength in advising clients in the real estate, healthcare and energy sectors. It has a significant client base consisting of sponsors and institutional investors, although it is recognized for its high-quality work on behalf of SBIC licensees and applicants. The practitioners also have extensive experience in handling issues in the secondaries space.

K&L Gates is sought after by clients for its experience assisting in the formation of a broad spectrum of funds. The firm has expertise advising on private equity, venture, real estate and credit funds.

King & Spalding LLP garners recognition for its private funds practice. The law firm represents managers and sponsors across a broad spectrum of work including fund formation, secondaries and regulatory compliance. The team offers particular expertise in real estate funds.

Linklaters has a broad team of practitioners known for its extensive work across the private equity space. The team is able to advise on a number of transactional issues including fund formation, mergers and acquisitions, as well as regulatory and compliance matters. Linklaters boasts the capability to handle complex cross-border matters often involving European and Asia-based clients. The team frequently supports clients on equity, debt and growth opportunity funds.

The private equity team at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius is held in high regard for is expertise in the market. The law firm excels in advising sponsors throughout the life-cycle of a fund and across the real estate, private credit and energy sectors. The team also garners recognition for their global expertise.

Morrison Foerster boasts considerable strength in assisting clients with the formation of venture capital and private equity funds. The group's clients include high-profile institutional investors and sponsors. The practitioners have notable experience of handling the formation of infrastructure, real estate and credit funds, among others.

The Skadden Arps team is adept at advising on a plethora of funds including buyout funds, funds of funds and sector-specific vehicles. A strong global presence allows the team to provide counsel on complex matters involving cross-border elements, such as master-feeder structures, funds of one and parallel fund structures.

Winston Taylor boasts a well-respected practice combining strength in traditional buyout funds, with deep expertise in innovative strategies. The firm is especially capable in the area of credit funds and special situations funds, with a track record of handling formations involving multiple jurisdictions.

Seward & Kissel LLP is sought after by clients for its expertise in fund formation and structuring. The firm capably advises private equity fund managers who operate across a range of industries and fund types.

Vedder is commended for its private funds expertise. The firm advises clients on the formation of private equity funds, funds of funds and multi-strategy funds.