As part of McGuireWoods’ ongoing efforts to promote the advancement of women in private equity and finance, we are launching a “celebration series” where we will be recognizing female dealmakers and female-led private equity-backed companies who are helping to reshape the PE landscape each day. We will also regularly celebrate other individuals and organizations who have joined us in working hard to elevate female dealmakers in the industry. If you would like to share any successes for inclusion in the series, please let us know. We are always looking to grow our “village.”
It is fitting to kick off these celebrations by recognizing Stifel Bank & Trust’s female-led sponsor finance team. The team is led by veteran Senior VP Juli Van Hook, who herself has more than 22 years of experience in sponsor finance. Van Hook manages the overall group and has staff in both St. Louis and Chicago. Jackie Hopkins, Managing Director, leads the Chicago team for Van Hook. Both women are key deal making professionals for the group. In the three years since formation, this female-led team has grown the sponsor finance practice to a portfolio of over $500MM with 25 different sponsors in a very competitive space. The team prides itself on running parallel tracks with their sponsor firms as they consider deals so that they can provide feedback on the deal, where they will be focused in diligence, and the leverage profile they support.
Congratulations to Juli, Jackie and their team!
The McGuireWoods Women in Private Equity & Finance Initiative promotes the advancement of women in private equity and lending through a series of varied experiences that provide substantive educational and networking opportunities.