Add a bookmark to get started

sam large

Sam Whittaker

Partner
Sam Whittaker has an excellent work ethic, is highly knowledgeable and responsive, and readily available to address points of concern.
Client Testimonial, Legal 500
About

Sam Whittaker is an investment management and funds lawyer with over 12 years' experience advising sponsors, managers and institutional investors on the full spectrum of funds work. 

Sam's experience includes the establishment and operation of closed-end funds and carried interest vehicles, managed accounts and joint ventures, as well as primary, secondary and co-investment deals.

Sam has particular experience in the real estate and venture capital sectors.  He is recognised by Legal 500 as a "Next Generation Partner" for Investment Fund Formation and Management: Real Estate Funds, and by Chambers 2024 as an "Up and Coming" Partner for Investment Funds: Private Equity: Venture Capital.

Sam has advised on some of the most bespoke and innovative de-carbonisation and natural capital investment strategies, including advising Aviva Ventures about its sustainability focused venture capital investments and Greensphere Capital about the launch of the Gaia Sciences Innovation partnerships which has brought together the world's largest group of globally-renowned bioscience and environmental science institutes.

His experience is truly global, having advised clients based in jurisdictions throughout the world including the Cayman Islands, France, Jersey, Hong Kong, the Middle East, Shanghai, Singapore, the UK and the USA. He has also spent time on secondment in the Luxembourg office of DLA Piper.

EXPERIENCE

  • Advising a US headquartered real estate asset manager about the formation of its EUR1bn pan-European real estate fund, structured as an English limited partnership.
  • Advising a US headquartered real estate asset manager about the formation of its EUR1.5bn pan-European real estate fund, structured as a Luxembourg special limited partnership.
  • Advised Waypoint Asset Management about the formation and launch of its GBP100m essential stores fund, structured as an English limited partnership, to invest in UK real estate.
  • Advising a global venture capital firm about the launch of its USD700m venture fund.
  • Advising Greensphere Capital about the launch of the Gaia Sciences Innovation partnerships which has brought together the world's largest group of globally-renowned bioscience and environmental science institutes to launch a GBP150m natural capital venture fund.
  • Advising Aviva Ventures about its sustainability focused venture capital investments.
  • Advising a UK family office about both its private equity and venture capital fund investment programme.
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

Awards

  • Up and Coming, Chambers 2024 for Investment Funds: Private Equity: Venture Capital
  • Next Generation Partner, Legal 500 for Investment Fund Formation and Management: Real Estate Funds

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

  • British Private Equity & Venture Capital Association

Connect