Article

Leading private equity team joins A&O Shearman’s growing platform

Published Date
Sep 2, 2024
A&O Shearman announces the addition of Dan Graham and Paul Dunbar to the Private Equity and M&A practice in London.

Dan and Paul join a team of over 200 partners who work with private capital investors across the U.S., U.K., EMEA and APAC. The A&O Shearman private equity sector advises 9 of the 10 largest global private equity fund managers and 60% of the 25 largest global private equity fund managers, according to PEI 300 2023.

“Following our transformational merger, A&O Shearman has set out its plan to invest in growing one of the pre-eminent private capital practices worldwide.” Stephen Lloyd, global co-head of private equity and private capital sector lead at A&O Shearman said, “Having Dan and Paul join us will significantly grow our London private equity and infrastructure bench. These partners are dedicated to servicing some of the most important global multi strategy asset managers.  Our intention is that this is just the first step in a global growth strategy for our private capital offering.”

Dan has particular experience advising sophisticated financial sponsors in complex international or cross-border transactions. His practice focuses on advising private equity firms and other financial institutions on transactions including leveraged buyouts, venture and growth capital investments, joint-ventures and co-investments, opportunistic and distressed acquisitions, take-privates and carve-outs, across the investment lifespan through to exit.

Paul’s practice focuses on transactions for private equity clients, advising on public and private corporate M&A, asset portfolio M&A, distressed M&A, joint ventures, and preferred equity investments. He works with clients investing in a broad range of sectors, including financial services and fintech, real estate, energy, manufacturing and industrials, infrastructure, transportation, healthcare and retail.

Robin Harvey, global co-head of private equity and private equity sector lead said, “We are delighted to welcome Dan and Paul.  They are exceptional partners with proven track records and strong relationships with great clients.  A&O Shearman’s wealth of experience across the products, sectors and geographies that are relevant to private capital makes it a superb platform for the trusted advisors of private capital clients.”

Dan and Paul join from Sidley Austin, and their hires build on the momentum of the recent Debt Finance hires of Karen McMaster, Parisa Clovis and Filippo Crosara.