DLA Piper is proud to have been ranked #1 globally for total private equity and venture capital deal volume in 2011 by Dow Jones Private Equity Analyst.

Our integrated, experienced teams represent private equity funds as well as their principals, management teams, institutional investors, financing sources and portfolio companies in all types of transactions and industries. Our clients range from emerging managers to "unfunded" sponsors, to traditional sponsors managing billions of dollars in committed capital.

Along with providing legal services, we introduce clients to the opportunities, relationships and insights afforded by our global platform. We also bring to bear our experience as the leading worldwide advisor in merger and acquisition activity, currently ranked as the most active law firm for global M&A deals, according to mergermarket*, one of the leading M&A intelligence services. Our lawyers manage each transaction based on their extensive transactional experience and understanding of the legal issues, structuring requirements and regulatory environment. We proactively coordinate each tier of the capital structure to work in harmony with the others and to stay consistent with your financial goals, management incentives and exit strategy.

Our transaction teams typically include lawyers from the multiple areas of law needed to support M&A transactions. For sponsors seeking to create value by acquiring troubled businesses as going concerns or select assets of troubled businesses, we regularly represent private equity funds in distressed company transactions. Our transaction experience extends across industries, including technology, life sciences, health care, food and beverage, consumer products, energy, real estate, hospitality, franchising, communications, insurance, manufacturing, distribution, government contracting and business and financial services.

In many cases, our services are introduced to the principals of private equity funds when we advise them on their formation, capital raising and operations activities. In that context, we also advise on issues such as compliance with tax and other requirements applicable to foreign investors, ERISA fiduciaries, small business holding companies, regulated investment companies, pensions, endowments and other tax-exempt investors, bank holding companies, insurance companies and other regulated investors. We also advise limited partners on fund investments and co-investments.

To serve many of our private equity fund clients, we routinely represent portfolio companies by leveraging our geographic reach. We efficiently manage the diverse legal needs required in representing growth-oriented and emerging companies, whether it involves an IPO, follow-on acquisition, strategic venture, recapitalization or financing, or day-to-day matters such as contracting, compliance, employment, governance and litigation management.

We recognize that sourcing, negotiating, financing and closing transactions in the private equity area are enhanced by successful relationships among the transaction participants. We can support your efforts in maintaining and enhancing these relationships while fully protecting your interests.

Our global reach and collaborative culture enable us to provide unparalleled coverage and service virtually anywhere our clients do business.

^{*Ranked first globally by deal volume 2010.}