Sam Whittaker

Partner
Sam Whittaker is very bright, user-friendly and provides solutions.
Client testimonial, Chambers
About

Sam Whittaker is a leading investment funds partner who advises fund managers, sponsors and institutional investors across the private markets.

He has particular expertise in the formation, structuring and operation of venture capital, growth capital, real estate, infrastructure and other alternative investment funds. His broader practice includes primary fund investments, co-investments, secondary transactions and continuation vehicles, managed accounts, joint ventures, carried interest arrangements and the establishment and operation of investment management businesses.

Sam advises established international fund managers, institutional investors, family offices and emerging managers throughout the fund lifecycle. Having advised both sponsors and investors across a wide range of fund structures and transactions, Sam brings a sophisticated understanding of market practice, negotiating dynamics and the commercial considerations that shape outcomes on both sides.

He regularly leads complex and cross-border matters, coordinating advice across fund formation, financial services regulation, tax, corporate, finance and other specialist disciplines. Clients value his ability to act as a single point of contact, identify the issues that matter and deliver clear, commercially pragmatic solutions.

Sam is ranked by Legal 500 for real estate funds and by Chambers UK in both venture capital funds and real estate funds. Chambers describes him as “very bright, user-friendly and solution-focused”, while clients have praised his commercial pragmatism, project management and ability to see the bigger picture.

EXPERIENCE

  • Advising RTP Global on the formation of RTP Global Partners IV, a USD1 billion venture capital fund.
  • Advising A US-headquartered real estate investment manager on the formation of successive pan-European real estate funds with commitments of EUR1 billion and EUR1.5 billion.
  • Advising Amber Infrastructure and Dragon Capital on the establishment and launch of the Amber Dragon Ukraine Infrastructure Fund, a co-sponsored impact fund focused on Ukraine.
  • Advising Greensphere Capital on the formation of the GBP150 million Gaia Sciences Innovation Fund.
  • Advising venture capital, real estate and infrastructure managers on the formation and operation of closed-ended investment funds, parallel funds, alternative investment vehicles, co-investment vehicles and carried interest arrangements.
  • Advising Institutional investors, asset managers and family offices on primary fund investments, strategic and cornerstone investments, co-investments, managed accounts and joint ventures.
  • Advising fund managers and investors on LP-led and GP-led secondary transactions, continuation vehicles, fund restructurings and other private-market liquidity solutions.
  • Advising emerging and established managers on management company arrangements, governance, economics, team incentives and regulatory matters.

Awards

Chambers UK 2026

  • Band 2 – Investment Funds: Private Equity: Venture Capital
  • Up and Coming – Investment Funds: Real Estate

The Legal 500 UK

  • Next Generation Partner – Real Estate Funds
  • Recommended lawyer – Private Funds
Education
  • Kaplan Law School, Legal Practice Course, LL.B, 2010
  • College of Law, Graduate Diploma in Law, LL.B, 2009
  • University of York, History and Politics, BA (Hons), 2008

Prior Experience

Sam joined DLA's London office in May 2016 from a City law firm, where he trained, qualified and worked for five and a half years prior to joining DLA.

Memberships And Affiliations

  • Member of the British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association
  • Member of the BVCA Venture Capital Working Group

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