Shantel
Key Takeaways
- Dechert LLP welcomes renowned private equity fund lawyer Sam Kay to its London team, strengthening the firm’s fund formation practice.
- Kay brings over 25 years of experience, specializing in fund formation work across a variety of private equity firms and investment strategies.
- Dechert’s strategic focus on advising asset managers, private equity firms, and financial institutions on their business aspects, including global private equity fund formation, is amplified with Kay’s addition.
A Major Addition to Dechert’s Fund Formation Practice
Leading global specialist law firm Dechert LLP announced the addition of Sam Kay, one of the United Kingdom’s most esteemed private equity fund lawyers, to their London team. As a partner in the financial services and investment management practice, Kay will significantly boost Dechert’s fund formation capabilities.
Kay brings with him over a quarter-century of experience advising on investment funds. He specializes in fund formation work for a vast array of private equity firms, encompassing diverse investment strategies such as leveraged buyouts, venture capital, real estate, infrastructure, energy and transition funds. He also provides counsel for asset management clients in private equity, private debt/credit, infrastructure, and real estate sectors.
Additionally, Kay is adept at working on GP-led transactions and secondaries, managing carried interest arrangements and co-investment schemes, and advising on ongoing and follow-on fund strategy, as well as liquidity solutions. His guidance extends to institutional investors regarding their investments in private equity funds, giving him an in-depth perspective of fund terms and conditions.
Kay has earned his place as a distinguished practitioner in the investment funds space, receiving accolades as a “Global Leader” for private fund formation by Who’s Who Legal and being ranked in Chambers UK in 2022. His influence within the private equity sector was acknowledged when Real Deals listed him among the “Top 20 Most Influential” in 2022.
Stronger Together at Dechert
Co-chair of Dechert, Mark Thierfelder, expressed enthusiasm at Kay’s arrival, saying, “Advising asset managers, private equity firms, and financial institutions on all aspects of their business, including global private equity fund formation, is central to the firm’s strategic focus. I’m thrilled to welcome Sam to Dechert as we continue to strengthen and focus on areas that set us apart from other global firms.”
Gus Black, co-chair of Dechert’s global financial services group and chair of Dechert’s London Management Committee, commented, “His reputation and experience will help shape our continued growth in the London private equity fund formation market.”
On his part, Kay said, “I am delighted to have started at Dechert. As the private funds market becomes more sophisticated, financial institutions need law firms with the strength and depth to support on a wide variety of advisory and transactional matters across a number of jurisdictions. I am excited to be part of the team and to contribute to Dechert’s continued growth and success.”
About Dechert
Dechert boasts one of the largest investment management teams among law firms, with over 185 lawyers worldwide. With a pioneering presence in all major European fund domiciles, the US, the Middle East, and Asia, Dechert is consistently recognized as a leading law firm for investment funds, particularly in private equity, where it has been a trailblazer for over 35 years. Dechert’s globally integrated team advises more than 300 private equity and private investment clients at every phase of the investment lifecycle.
