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Private Equity & Investment Funds



Our experience and global network help investors raise capital and execute deals in the middle market. NP Capital Connector® sources proprietary deal flow and connects companies with investors.

Our approach:

Investors need a law firm that delivers results, regardless of obstacles. Our national team tirelessly watches the market to forecast and capture new opportunities, manage risk and close deals. Our services cover all aspects of the middle market private equity space, including:

  • Counseling general partners and limited partners in connection with fund formation, management issues, investments in new funds, and secondary sales
  • Representing sponsors in transactions including buyouts, minority investments, growth equity, recapitalizations, distressed acquisitions and portfolio investment activities
  • Advising funds, family offices and managers in a variety of disputes and challenges ranging from risk management to control contests to liquidation
  • Counseling senior executives and management in the negotiation of employment and executive compensation agreements, including provisions dealing with change in control, severance and post-employment restrictions
  • Sourcing deals and making strategic introductions through our network of relationships with investors and buyers

In recognition of Nixon Peabody’s deal flow, Dow Jones Private Equity Analyst ranked us 4th in the U.S. for fund formation and investments, and fourteenth for private equity and venture capital transactions. The knowledge and connections gained through this volume of transactions translates to exceptional value and negotiating power for our clients.

With access to our specialty partners with extensive experience in tax, intellectual property, capital markets, leveraged finance, labor and employment, environmental and litigation, we deliver service and solutions on par with the world’s leading firms, but at a better value and structure for the middle market and lower middle markets.

NP Capital Connector®

As a leader in the middle market, we developed the NP Capital Connector® program to source proprietary deal flow and connect companies with investors. NP Capital Connector® has facilitated more than 1,200 introductions to more than 300 companies globally. About half of these opportunities are purely proprietary with average revenue of $35 million and EBITDA of $4 million.

Learn more about NP Capital Connector®.

Who we work with:

  • Private equity and investment funds
  • Pension funds
  • Search funds and independent sponsors
  • Strategic corporate investors
  • Family offices

Representative Experience

Fund Formation

  • Advised numerous sponsors on fund formations involving buy-outs, venture capital, debt/mezzanine, technology, infrastructure, real estate, energy, hedge, fund-of-fund, secondary and other investment strategies (ranging in fund size from $10 million to $1 billion+).
  • Representation of various emerging fund managers on the successful launch of their first-time funds, as well as counseling on various federal and state programs available to assist many of those managers.
  • Representation of multiple groups and individuals in connection with their spin-out from an existing institution and the corresponding startup of their newly restructured fund operations. Multiple representations involving the transition from fund founders to the next generation of leaders in the firm.
  • Counseled the advisory committees and/or specific investors in several investment funds in connection with the transitioning of management from the existing group to a new group (whether as part of “cause,” “no fault” or negotiated circumstances).
  • Acted as U.S. counsel to non-U.S. fund sponsors raising capital from U.S. investors and/or making U.S. investments.
  • Advised numerous pledge and independent sponsors on their structuring and private equity transactions.
  • Served as general counsel for one of the leading fund of funds in the world for more than 25 years. As its general counsel, we represent the client in connection with both the formation of its investment funds and its investments in other funds.
  • Representation of a global private markets investor forming fund-of-funds products and providing services in connection with investments in private equity funds.
  • Representation of a global investment consulting firm in connection with their alternative investment program. The client serves a diverse client base, including nonprofit organizations, foundations and other endowed institutions, as well as corporate, public and jointly trusteed retirement funds. They currently serve 160 retainer clients with combined assets of more than $1 trillion.

Fund Investments and Co-Investments

  • Extensive representation of various investors (including state pension systems, institutional investors, family offices, foundations and fund-of-funds) on their investment in leading investment funds in the U.S. and abroad.
  • Represented a customized funds investment group in connection with more than 300 investments in various private equity funds. In addition, we have represented them as fund counsel in the organization and offering of a number of sponsored private equity funds that are offered to various institutional and high-net-worth investors.
  • Advised multiple limited partners and institutional investors in connection with their fund co-investment transactions.

Fund Secondary Transactions

  • Advised numerous institutional investors on significant fund secondary sale transactions—some of which involved 100+ investment funds and/or exceeded $1 billion+ of commitments.
  • Represented various secondary buyers on their acquisition of limited partnership interests in investments funds.
  • Extensive advice to sponsors and investors on fund secondary auction processes, including bidding, documentation, negotiation, transfer agreements and closing.

Acquisitions and Private Equity Investments

  • Represent multiple sponsors on their acquisitions of companies (in the $10 million to $250 million+ range), many of which are leveraged acquisitions. Wide transactional experience in multiple industries including manufacturing, consumer products, services, food and beverage, technology, health/medical device and energy.
  • Represent sponsors and portfolio companies in connection with their roll-up acquisition strategies.
  • Extensive representations of companies conducting a sale or divestiture of their business (whether stock, asset, merger or other, in both proprietary processes and auction sales).
  • Represent multiple venture capital firms and/or companies on venture capital financings.
  • Advised various sponsors and companies on growth equity investments.
  • Counseling on equity and debt restructurings of portfolio companies, including dividend recapitalizations.
  • Represent individuals or groups in management-led buy-outs of companies.

Dealmaking under quarantine: 8 private equity and M&A pros share strategies while social distancing

Mergers & Acquisitions | April 29, 2020

This Q&A roundup on dealmaking during the age of COVID-19 features Boston-based Corporate practice group leader Chris Keefe’s best practices, including reaching out to colleagues and clients to check on the hardships they may be facing and lending a hand as we all weather the storm together.

Investors are making tough decisions on startups

The Boston Globe | April 27, 2020

This article quotes Manchester Corporate partner Phil Taub, head of the firm’s Private Equity team, on difficult decisions private equity firms are having to make in terms of which startups get funding and which do not in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

Why the coronavirus makes MAC clauses more important than ever

Mergers & Acquisitions | March 09, 2020

New York City Corporate partner Dick Langan, who leads Nixon Peabody’s annual survey of MAC (material adverse change) clauses in M&A deals, says the coronavirus outbreak is exactly the type of risk that such clauses are designed to address.

Private equity firms begin to wrestle with coronavirus risk

Wall Street Journal | February 27, 2020

Manchester Corporate partner Phil Taub talks to the Wall Street Journal about the personal and professional impact of the coronavirus outbreak on private-equity practitioners.

IntraLogic secures funding for major expansion

Long Island Business News | July 25, 2019

The following coverage highlights Nixon Peabody’s role as advisor to IntraLogic Solutions in its recapitalization by Post Capital Partners.

School security provider IntraLogic receives PE investment

Security Sales & Integration | July 25, 2019

The following coverage highlights Nixon Peabody’s role as advisor to IntraLogic Solutions in its recapitalization by Post Capital Partners.

How Todd Tidgewell merged law and venture capital into a career

Albany Business Review | January 03, 2019

Albany Corporate partner Todd Tidgewell is profiled in this Q+A that charts his professional path from law firm to venture capital and back. Todd now focuses his legal practice on advising private equity, venture capital and angel investors.

Movers & Shakers

The Deal | December 12, 2018

Nixon Peabody’s strategic addition of San Francisco Corporate partner Lior Zorea is covered in this roundup of executive news in the M&A, private equity and venture capital spaces.

Nixon Peabody snags corporate pro for San Francisco office

Law360 | December 11, 2018

San Francisco Corporate partner Lior Zorea’s arrival at Nixon Peabody is featured in this article, which highlights Lior’s experience in emerging growth companies, venture capital and M&A in the tech industry.

Nixon Peabody beefs up corporate practice with new hire

PE Hub | December 10, 2018

The arrival of San Francisco Corporate partner Lior Zorea is covered in this article by PE Hub, a top publication covering venture capital and private equity fundraising. Lior is quoted in the piece, along with San Francisco Office Managing Partner Tom Gaynor and Corporate practice group leader David Martland of Boston.

How Franchising and Licensing Can Be Avenues to Expand Your Fitness Business

Club Industry | October 31, 2018

In the second part of this two-part column, Nixon Peabody attorneys Kristin Jamberdino, Keri McWilliams, and Tarae Howell discuss potential avenues of expansion for fitness studios, including licensing and franchising. Click here to read Part Two.

How to expand your fitness business through brand management and careful investment

Club Industry | October 22, 2018

New York City Complex Commercial Disputes partner Kristin Jamberdino, Washington DC Corporate partner Keri McWilliams and Boston Complex Commercial Disputes associate Tarae Howell co-wrote a two-part contributed article advising boutique fitness entrepreneurs on best practices for expanding their brands. Click here to read Part One.

Private investment fund terms and conditions: The relationship between GPs and LPs

Financial Poise | September 27, 2018

Corporate partners Kari Harris of Boston and Gary Levenstein of Chicago co-wrote this contributed article about the relationships between general partner and limited partners in the multi-trillion private equity industry.

Best practices in family office structures: Mistakes can cost millions

Financial Poise | July 09, 2018

Chicago Corporate partner Gary Levenstein and Albany Corporate associate Michael Katz contributed this article discussing “the complex financial, tax, legal and managerial dynamics” of family offices.

Cryptocurrency class action lawsuit alleges security violations

Rochester Business Journal | May 10, 2018

Rochester private equity and investment funds partner Jeremy Wolk and Chicago commercial litigation associate Megha Shah authored this column about a recent class action lawsuit brought against cryptocurrency company NANO and its team, and the future implications the decision may have for Blockchain companies.

In Case You Missed It: Hottest Firms and Stories On Law360

Law360 | April 07, 2018

The article “Tax Reform’s Impact on Private Equity,” written by NP attorneys Sean Clancy, Shahzad Malik, Praveen Ayyagari and Brian Mahoney, was one of Law360’s most-clicked items last week.

Tax Reform’s Impact On Private Equity

Law360 | April 02, 2018

Washington DC public company transactions partner Sean Clancy and associate Praveen Ayyagari, Rochester M&A and corporate transactions associate Brian Mahoney and Los Angeles M&A and corporate transactions partner Shahzad Malik contributed this expert analysis column on tax reform’s impact on private equity.

RecoveryPark Could Create 170 Jobs for Detroiters—It Could also Close

Crain’s Detroit Business | March 24, 2018

Nixon Peabody’s Washington DC office is mentioned in this article as one of the firms contracted to secure funds for the continuing operation of RecoveryPark, a Detroit business that provides local produce through urban farming and creates job opportunities for people with barriers to employment.

Castanea Backs Yasso to Meet Market Demand for Better-for-You Greek Yogurt

Mergers & Acquisitions | January 16, 2018

Nixon Peabody is mentioned in this article for advising the Massachusetts-based frozen dessert maker Yasso in its deal with private equity firm Castanea Partners.

Initial Coin Offerings Getting Increased Scrutiny by SEC

Rochester Business Journal | January 11, 2018

Rochester private equity and investment funds partner Jeremy Wolk and Rochester public company transactions associate Brian Becker wrote this column examining SEC issues surrounding ICOs (initial coin offerings).

How nation’s new tax law might affect charitable organizations

Rochester Business Journal | December 14, 2017

Rochester private equity and investment funds partner Jeremy Wolk, M&A and corporate transactions counsel Anita Pelletier and Washington DC M&A and corporate transactions partner Mike Cooney authored this column about the impact of U.S. tax reform on nonprofits.

$8 million fund for “impact investment” to debut in WNY

Buffalo Business First | September 24, 2017

Nixon Peabody is mentioned for advising on the creation of the Western New York Impact Investment Fund. Buffalo private equity and investment funds partner Charley Jacobs was involved in the deal.

S corp or C corp? Decisions pile up when creating a startup

Rochester Business Journal | September 21, 2017

Rochester private equity and investment funds partner Jeremy Wolk authored this column on early-stage legal considerations for entrepreneurs and startups.

Nixon Peabody's on-site incubator a boost for LGBT entrepreneurs

American Lawyer, National Law Journal, Law.com | September 13, 2017

San Francisco office managing partner Tom Gaynor and IP counseling and transactions partner On Lu are quoted in this feature article about the StartOut Growth Lab, an LGBT startup accelerator based in Nixon Peabody’s San Francisco office.

Navy SEALS storm Newfound Lake for military fundraiser

The Union Leader (Manchester, NH) | July 14, 2017

This article is about the inaugural Swim With A Mission fundraiser organized by Private equity and investment funds leader and Manchester partner Phil Taub. The event raised money for various military charities.  Many Nixon Peabody attorneys and staff participated and volunteered at the event.

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Contacts

Philip B. Taub

Partner
Head of Private Equity

ptaub@nixonpeabody.com

Phone: 617-345-1165

David A. Martland

Partner

dmartland@nixonpeabody.com

Phone: 617-345-6145

View All Contacts
  • M&A Advisor
    • Middle-Market Deal of the Year ($5 million–$25 million)
    • Cross-Border Deal of the Year ($5 million–$50 million)
  • Chambers USA—Nationwide ranking
  • U.S. News/Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms, including ” 2016 “Law Firm of the Year” in Health Care Law
  • Legal 500
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