Private Equity

We are among the few, if any, law firms capable of offering the vital blend of in-depth private equity experience and highly focused industry knowledge. What defines our practice is the focus on building long-term relationships and a commitment to providing senior team members to ensure transactional success. This is achieved by our ability to provide a deep bench—more than 100 private equity lawyers—enabling us to provide dedicated client service teams, all with an eye to develop long-term relationships with both the fund and its portfolio companies.

Transactional Capabilities

We advise private equity clients and their portfolio companies on a full range of transactions and at every step of the investment life cycle, including:

Control, non-control and minority investments
Mergers and acquisitions
Growth investments and buy-and-build strategies
Buyouts and recapitalizations
Initial public offerings, strategic dispositions, auction processes and other exit strategies
Employee stock ownership (ESOP) transactions
Investments in publicly held vehicles
Special situation transactions/distressed acquisitions involving bankruptcy proceedings, out-of-court restructurings and workouts
Secondary trading of fund interests

Industry Focus

McDermott’s private equity teams have demonstrated experience—providing comprehensive transactional counsel and regulatory counsel—working with sponsors, portfolio companies and the full range of participants across most industries. Moreover, successful transactions require knowledge and experience for a specific industry. We can staff deal teams with lawyers possessing relevant experience in the following industries:

Agribusiness. Our dedicated team is skilled at providing counsel and representation across the entire spectrum of agribusiness, from regulatory compliance, administrative litigation and product recalls to transactions and corporate matters, along with advising on cutting-edge developments, including organic labeling and genetically modified foods.
Energy. McDermott’s energy practice includes a dedicated group of lawyers and professionals representing clients in the power, oil and gas, biofuels, renewable energy, agriculture, metals and derivatives sectors.
Food & Beverage. Our food and beverage team includes lawyers with specific experience in the private and public sectors who counsel clients on the full range of industry-related issues, including litigation, product safety, biotechnology, taxation and regulation, particularly relating to alcohol and distribution matters.
Government Strategies. Our partners—many of whom have served in the executive and legislative branches of government—provide clients with distinct, interrelated services covering traditional lobbying and relations, as well as contract and procurement capabilities, and are highly experienced advising on issues as a result of government investigations.
Health Care. With a more than 30-year history of serving the health care industry, McDermott has one of the largest and most prestigious health law departments in the world, serving leading organizations in every major sector of the health and life sciences industry on regulatory and business transaction issues.
Private Clients. We represent individuals, family offices, closely held businesses, foundations, estates and other entities on investment and wealth planning matters.
Sports & Entertainment. Our dedicated sports law practice group represents individuals, organizations and private investors both domestically and internationally, including advising on mergers and transactions, marketing strategies and regulatory matters.