Peter Laybourn

Partner

laybourne-peter
  • JD, Duke University School of Law, 2004
  • Visiting Student, Harvard Law School, 2004
  • LLM, University of Copenhagen Faculty of Law - Denmark, 2002
  • BA Juris (LLB equivalent), University of Copenhagen Faculty of Law - Denmark, 2000

Qualifications

  • Massachusetts, 2004
  • Danish
  • Boston Magazine “Top Lawyers” (2021)
  • Chambers USA (2021-2023) 
  • The Best Lawyers in America (2022-2024)
  • Legal 500 (2017-2019, 2021-2023); Next Generation Lawyer (2017-2019)
  • IFLR 1000 (2016-2024)

Peter Laybourn

Partner

Peter Laybourn is a partner in Ropes & Gray’s asset management group and co-head of the firm’s private funds practice. Focusing on private equity and other private funds, Peter steers clients through complex fundraisings and transactions ranging in size from a hundred million to many billions of dollars. 

Drawing on his extensive experience in the formation of growth and buyout funds, credit funds, energy funds, funds of funds, co-investment funds, venture capital funds and secondary funds for both emerging and well-established firms, Peter brings deep insight and creativity to the fundraising process, as well as a practical and commercial approach. 

In addition, Peter regularly helps clients navigate critical operational and governance matters and complex fund level transactions. Throughout his career, he has worked closely with private fund sponsors on domestic and international fund formations, GP-led fund restructurings, spinoffs, succession planning, joint ventures, and general investment management matters. 

In his recent role as co-leader of the firm’s buyout and equity funds team, Peter spearheaded the development of a proprietary database of buyout fund formation terms, together with his co-leader. The database has been an important tool for helping clients to understand market trends in this area.

Experience

Peter works with the following clients, among others:

  • Providence Strategic Growth
  • First Eagle Alternative Credit
  • QHP Capital Partners
  • Antares Capital
  • ArcLight Capital
  • Audax Group
  • Bain Capital
  • Baupost Group
  • Breakthrough Energy Ventures
  • Constitution Capital Partners
  • Hamilton Lane
  • Neuberger Berman
  • Shoreline Equity Partners 
  • Thomas H. Lee Partners

Peter’s experience includes advising on a range of funds and other transactions, including representing:

Buyout and Growth Funds 

  • A long-standing buyout fund sponsor in its domestic and international offering of its recent flagship, $3.5 billion dollar buyout fund.
  • A buyout fund sponsor in the offering of a $5 billion dollar buyout fund.
  • A buyout fund sponsor in its offering of a $1.5 billion buyout fund.
  • A long-standing buyout fund sponsor in its offering of a geography-focused $1.5 billion dollar buyout fund.
  • A mid-market sponsor in its domestic and international offering of a $600 million health care focused buyout fund.
  • Buyout fund sponsors in GP-led secondary transactions with multiple and single assets.
  • A first-time private equity fund sponsor in its formation of a $300 million buyout fund.
  • A growth fund sponsor in its formation of a $300 million growth fund.

Credit Funds

  • One of the most active mid-market credit fund sponsors in its formation of a $2 billion direct lending fund.
  • Credit fund sponsor in organizing several separately managed accounts totaling over $1.25 billion, as well as general compliance and internal matters.
  • A publicly traded institutional investor in the formation of multiple credit funds.
  • A large New York-based financial institution in the launch of a credit fund platform, spanning both junior and senior lending products.
  • A long-standing buyout and credit fund sponsor in its formation of a $1.5 billion dollar special situations fund.

Funds of Funds, Co-Investment Funds, Secondaries Funds

  • A large New York-based financial institution in its domestic and international offering of several multi-billion dollar funds of funds.
  • A large alternative asset management firm in implementing arrangements for internal carry allocation mechanics and co-investment arrangements.
  • A large New York-based financial institution in its domestic and international offering of a $2+ billion co-investment fund.
  • A publicly traded private equity fund sponsor in the formation of a $3.9 billion secondaries fund.

Venture Capital Funds

  • A venture capital fund sponsor in the formation of a $2 billion venture capital fund.

Restructurings, Spinoffs and JVs

  • A private equity sponsor with a fund restructuring in a stapled secondary transaction.
  • A private equity platform with its spinoff from a larger financial institution.
  • A large sponsor in connection with several multi-national investment joint ventures.

Succession Arrangements and Reorganizations

  • Both retiring founders and successors in several succession arrangements.
  • A private equity fund sponsor with an extensive internal reorganization of its firm and business relationships, including divestiture of minority ownership.

Publications

Presentations

  • Speaker, “The Road Ahead for Buyout Funds: Fundraising, Valuation & Liquidity Updates” Ropes & Gray Teleconference (April 23 & 30, 2020)
  • Panelist, “Continued momentum of the closed-end fund market,” Maples Investment Funds Forum 2020 (February 13, 2020)
  • Speaker, “Key Trends in Private Equity,” International Bar Association’s 20th Annual International Conference on Private Investment Funds (March 2019)
  • Speaker, "Fund Formation Legal Update," Fund Finance Summer Update (September 7, 2017)
  • Speaker, “International Offerings of U.S. Private Investment Funds,” Luxembourg Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (June 8, 2017)
  • Speaker, “Waterfall Discussion: Variations in Structuring Carried Interest Waterfall Models,” Wells Fargo Global Fund Services and RSM US LLP Private Equity Asset Manager Summit (May 18, 2016)

Disclaimer

Ropes & Gray International LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in Delaware, United States of America and is a recognised body regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (with registered number 521000).
  • JD, Duke University School of Law, 2004
  • Visiting Student, Harvard Law School, 2004
  • LLM, University of Copenhagen Faculty of Law - Denmark, 2002
  • BA Juris (LLB equivalent), University of Copenhagen Faculty of Law - Denmark, 2000

Qualifications

  • Massachusetts, 2004
  • Boston Magazine “Top Lawyers” (2021)
  • Chambers USA (2021-2023) 
  • The Best Lawyers in America (2022-2024)
  • Legal 500 (2017-2019, 2021-2023); Next Generation Lawyer (2017-2019)
  • IFLR 1000 (2016-2024)
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