Global law firm White & Case LLP has expanded its Investment Funds Practice and Global Private Equity Industry Group with the addition of secondaries partner Alexandra Chauvin in London.
"In recent years the importance of investment funds has grown as their role in financing the global economy has increased,” said John Reiss, Head of White & Case's Global Mergers & Acquisitions Practice. "White & Case is responding to the subsequent client demand through the establishment and rapid growth of our Investment Funds Practice led by partner Emily Brown."
Alexandra advises asset managers and institutional investors on all aspects of their business and operations, with a particular emphasis on structuring and executing US and European secondaries transactions in private alternative investment funds. Her experience spans a broad range of private equity-led solutions, including continuation vehicles, fund restructurings, portfolio sales and other liquidity solutions. Alexandra joins White & Case from Ropes & Gray, where she was a partner and led the European secondaries team from London.
"The secondaries market has experienced dramatic growth in recent years, with the volume of fund recapitalizations and portfolio transactions rising globally, particularly with the use of continuation funds as an alternative exit option for fund sponsors. This growth is expected to continue through 2024 and beyond," said White & Case partner Emily Brown, Head of the Firm’s Investment Funds Practice. "To meet this demand we need to continue to build our Investment Funds Practice, specifically in the secondaries market. With deep experience in the US and Europe, Alexandra will strengthen our funds and secondaries capabilities globally and be well-placed to capitalize on a market that is growing at speed."
White & Case partner and Vice Chair Oliver Brettle said: "The addition of Alexandra supports the continued build out of our global funds capabilities, which are an integral part of the private equity, sovereign wealth fund, infrastructure, asset management, debt and real estate sectors. In particular, to continue the successful growth trajectory of our Global Private Equity Industry Group it is critical that we establish ourselves as a recognized leader in funds work for global financial sponsor clients."
Alexandra's arrival continues the expansion of White & Case's Investment Funds Practice following the recent addition of partners Emily Brown and Lavanya Raghavan in London, Phillip Sacks in Dubai, Omar Hemady in Boston, Eriko Sakata in Tokyo and Emmanuel Gutton in Luxembourg.