Ropes & Gray to Lead Discussions at Kayo M&A and Private Funds Conferences

Four Ropes & Gray partners will moderate sessions in October at the Kayo M&A and Kayo Private Funds conferences.

Private equity partner Jessica Cooney will moderate “The Macroeconomy and its Impact on M&A” discussion, where she will be joined by Alysa Craig, managing director at Stifel Financial Corp; Blair Hennessy, managing director of H/Advisors Abernathy; and Jackie Peradotto, principal at HarbourVest Partners. Private equity partner Sarah Schaffer Raux will moderate a fireside chat titled “Terms, Tactics & Triumphs” with Jaime Hildreth, head of asset management for WestCap. Both events will be held on Tuesday October 14, 2025, as part of the M&A conference.

Asset management partner Chelsea Childs will moderate the “Democratizing Access: How Retail Capital is Reshaping Private Markets” session, where she will be joined by Jessica Douieb, managing director and head of wealth partners at J.P. Morgan; Enkelena Gjuka, principal and chief operating officer of the Carlyle Group; Jackie Rantanen,  managing director of Hamilton Lane; and Andrea Simsik, senior vice president (principal) of HarbourVest Partners. Asset management partner Rachel O’Brien will moderate a plenary fireside chat titled “The COO's Playbook: Navigating Fundraising, Compliance, the Future of PE Operations” with Teresa Bernstein, chief operating officer and general counsel of ACON Investments. Both events will be held on Thursday, October 16, 2025, as part of the Private Funds conference.

The conferences will be held at the Four Seasons Hotel (Boylston location) in Boston.

Kayo connects investors in private equity, credit, real estate, healthcare, and infrastructure through its flagship annual conferences, email newsletters, local pop-up events, and digital content. Ropes & Gray is a proud sponsor of Kayo conferences.