Private Equity

Our clients get unsurpassed counsel throughout the lifecycle of their private equity transactions from one of the largest and most sophisticated private equity practices in the world.

Experience

Ropes & Gray has been at the forefront of private equity deals practically since the invention of the leveraged buyout. Our commitment to both middle market and multibillion-dollar deals provides us with unique perspective in the private equity industry.

Noteworthy large cap transactions include representation of:

  • TPG Capital and Wind River, a developer of security software for the Internet of Things (IoT), in connection with the proposed sale of Wind River to Aptiv PLC for US$4.3 billion.
  • Partners Group in its acquisition of United States Infrastructure Corporation (USIC), a provider of utility location services, and subsequent sale of a 50% stake to a consortium led by Kohlberg & Company.
  • Partners Group in its acquisition of Foundation Risk Partners, a specialist insurance broker.
  • Partners Group in its significant minority investment in VelocityEHS, a provider of AI-powered ESG & EHS software and solutions for global enterprises.
  • Genstar Capital and Advarra in the sale of a majority stake in Advarra to Blackstone and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board.

Global Reach

With world-leading practices in both private equity funds and private equity transactions, Ropes & Gray is able to provide clients with unsurpassed services in all aspects of the PE industry.

Ropes & Gray’s private equity lawyers routinely advise leading large- and middle-market clients in multiple industries on every aspect of their largest and most complex global transactions. Clients retain us again and again for our deep understanding of their needs, issues and goals. They rely on us to help them make the right deals on the right terms, thoughtfully assess risk and make appropriate trade-offs, and respond quickly to meet business demands.

PE Industry Leaders

Ropes & Gray’s award-winning private equity group is regularly ranked among the world’s leading PE practices by Chambers, Legal 500 and others. Our impressive client base includes 9 of the 10 largest global funds and 46 of the 100 largest global funds and more than 80 mid-market firms.

Our clients get integrated global service and creative yet practical solutions to their legal and business challenges. Clients can draw on the rich and deep experience of our lawyers in offices around the world.

United States

  • Chambers USA (2022) – Top ranked nationwide for “Private Equity.” Multiple attorneys are also ranked individually nationwide and in Massachusetts, California, Illinois and New York for “Private Equity” and “Corporate/M&A”
  • Law360 Private Equity Practice Group of the Year (2017/2018/2019/2020) – A coveted distinction that recognizes law firms whose work for clients has resonated throughout the legal industry in addition to accounting for the size, complexity and significance of deals advised on
  • The Deal – Awarded “Private Equity Deal of the Year 2020” as counsel to Harvest Partners in its acquisition of Yellowstone Landscape
  • U.S. News & World Report’s Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” (2019) – Named “Law Firm of the Year” for “Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law”
  • Buyouts Insider – Awarded “Deal of the Year 2019” as counsel to New Mountain Capital in its sale of Equian
  • The American Lawyer – Named “Dealmakers of the Year” (2019/2020)
  • The Legal 500 U.S. (2020) – Ranked highly in the United States for “Private Equity Buyouts,” with two lawyers recognized in the Hall of Fame 
  • IFLR1000 (2018/2019/2020/2021) – Ranked as a leading law firm for “Private Equity” in the United States
  • Vault (2021) – Top 10 “Best Law Firms” for “Private Equity”

Asia

  • Chambers Asia-Pacific (2020) – Highly ranked in the Asia-Pacific region for “Private Equity”
  • IFLR1000 (2021) – Ranked as a leading law firm for “Private Equity” in Hong Kong and China
  • The Financial Times Asia-Pacific Innovative Law Firms – Consistently recognized as one of the most innovative global law firms in the Asia-Pacific region. Ropes & Gray received praise in the “Enabling Business Growth and Transformation” category for the firm’s work on noteworthy transactions
  • Asian Legal Awards (2018) – Awarded “Private Equity Deal of the Year” for our work on Toshiba Corp.’s sale of its memory chip business in addition to being awarded “M&A Deal of the Year: North Asia” for our work on Nord Anglia Education’s $4.3B privatization

United Kingdom

  • Chambers UK (2020) – Ranked for “Private Equity: Buyouts: High-end Capability”
  • IFLR1000 (2021) – Ranked as a leading law firm for “Private Equity” in the UK
  • The Legal 500 UK (2020) – Ranked in the UK as a leading “Private Equity Transactions” practice
They’re always two steps ahead of where we need to be. They help us plan how transactions are going to go. They seem to have the right experts at the ready. ...They have the best market information about the industry of any firm we work with.
Private Equity Client, Chambers USA