Chicago partner Amber McGraw Walsh, chair of McGuireWoods’ Healthcare Department, Pittsburgh debt finance partner Penny Zacharias co-authored an in-depth look at trends driving the growth of women in private equity in a Feb. 4 article published by Law360.
Changes in recruitment and retention programs, the growth of women-owned private equity firms, and the emergence of networking and mentorship programs are among the factors fueling the expansion, they wrote. Walsh leads McGuireWoods’ Women in Private Equity and Finance Initiative, featuring industry-focused events where investors, lenders and the firm’s lawyers make connections, discuss deal opportunities and create thought leadership opportunities.
“Although private equity as an industry has a long way to go to ensure the diverse views and experiences of women are harnessed for the good of the firms and the companies in which they invest, these trends give us great hope for this continuing evolution,” the authors wrote.