Private Equity
McGuireWoods advises private equity funds and those doing business with them, including institutional investors, independent sponsors, emerging managers, family offices, investment advisers, lenders and portfolio companies.
Excellent deal work distinguishes McGuireWoods, particularly innovations such as the firm’s national independent sponsor and emerging manager practices and its black professionals and women in private equity and finance initiatives. While maintaining a top-tier practice in middle-market M&A and private equity, McGuireWoods adds value for clients through vital introductions and referrals of tailored investment opportunities developed through its vast network.
McGuireWoods’ private equity lawyers represent funds up and down the capital stack, from early-stage venture and growth capital to middle-market and control buyout funds, as well as mezzanine funds and senior lenders providing debt financing for private equity deals. Refinitiv and Bloomberg consistently rank McGuireWoods among the top M&A firms in the United States and the top private equity law firms in the world for the number of mid-market private equity transactions firm lawyers handle annually. In 2022, PitchBook recognized McGuireWoods as one of the most active law firms in the United States by deal activity.
Over the past five years, McGuireWoods represented more than 200 private equity funds and their portfolio companies, each with nuanced needs. This volume and diversity of experience aligns with funds’ investment strategies, such as control and noncontrol buyouts, independent sponsor transactions, SBIC, investment fund formation and management, mezzanine finance, and senior and subordinated debt strategies.
Clients come to McGuireWoods for in-depth skills that cross legal practice and industry lines, and the firm leverages its resources to assemble teams with the know-how each client needs. McGuireWoods’ deep understanding of industry-specific regulations and trends — notably in the healthcare, energy, food and beverage, life sciences, finance, franchising and technology sectors, among others — and its ability to distill this information for clients translates into actionable, strategic business advice.
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“They offer deep industry strength and practice groups that collaborate extremely well and work together seamlessly.”
– THE LEGAL 500 UNITED STATES 2023: M&A/CORPORATE AND COMMERCIAL PRIVATE EQUITY BUYOUTS
“Highly knowledgeable but extremely strong interpersonal skills and an understanding of transaction dynamics; constructive and creative approaches to solving problems.”
– THE LEGAL 500 UNITED STATES 2023: M&A/CORPORATE AND COMMERCIAL PRIVATE EQUITY BUYOUTS
“McGuireWoods has a deep bench of subject matter experts that can tackle any matter you throw their way, no matter how complex. The team will find a way to wrap their minds around it and realize what the client specifically needs.”
– CHAMBERS USA 2023: ILLINOIS, CORPORATE/M&A & PRIVATE EQUITY
“McGuireWoods has a strong and deep team across the board. It is particularly strong in corporate healthcare matters.”
– CHAMBERS USA 2023: PENNSYLVANIA, CORPORATE/M&A & PRIVATE EQUITY
“McGuireWoods understands its client’s business and the personalities of deal teams, so it can offer pragmatic, solution-oriented advice on key issues that arise during transactions.”
– CHAMBERS USA 2023: PENNSYLVANIA, CORPORATE/M&A & PRIVATE EQUITY
TEAM LEADERS
Geoffrey C. Cockrell
Partner
Jon W. Finger
Partner
David P. McLean
Partner
Thomas E. Zahn
Partner
Christopher S. Nesbit
Partner
J.D. Costa
Partner