Global law firm Reed Smith today announced the appointment of private equity partner Tom Whelan in its London office. Whelan joined the firm’s Global Corporate Group on 19 February from McDermott Will & Emery (MWE), where he was a partner and head of the private equity and corporate transactions group in London.
Whelan brings a wealth of experience advising private equity sponsors, multi strategy funds, private capital investors and corporates. His skillset spans a broad spectrum of transactions, encompassing buyouts, co-investments, mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, refinancings, and exits, as well as advising on management incentive plans.
Mike Young, Reed Smith partner and chair of the firm’s EME corporate practice, said: “I am delighted to welcome Tom to the firm; he is an exceptional private equity lawyer with impressive credentials and a strong client base.
“We’ve made significant investments in our private equity practice, and this continues to be a top strategic priority across the firm. Tom’s hire will enhance our existing offering and greatly benefit our clients across our five key industry sectors – energy and renewables, entertainment and media, transportation, life sciences and health care, and financial services – as well as real estate and technology.”
Whelan’s three decades of experience began at Ashurst in 1991, where he trained and worked as an associate, before joining DLA Piper as a partner in 2002. Whelan then moved to Hogan Lovells as partner in 2006, where he was promoted to global head of private equity in 2012, prior to joining MWE in 2019. He is recognised in Chambers UK for Private Equity: Leading Individual Mid-Market Deals (2022-2024); in The Best Lawyers in the United Kingdom for M&A Law and Private Equity Law (2023-2024); and in The Legal 500 UK for private equity.
"We are thrilled to welcome Tom to the team," said Andrew Jenkinson, managing partner of the firm’s London office. "Expansion of Reed Smith’s private equity capabilities, in line with our industry group focus, remains a key commitment for the business.”
Whelan said: “I am excited to join Reed Smith as its newest partner in London. Reed Smith stands out as an exceptional firm. With its global reach, industry-specific focus, collaborative culture, top-quality practitioners and full-service approach, it offers the perfect platform for expanding the private equity practice and assisting clients with their legal needs more generally across all aspects of their business.”
Reed Smith’s EME corporate practice has undergone significant growth over the last 12 months, with the firm welcoming senior private equity lawyers Dr. Germar Enders, Dr. Nikolaus von Jacobs, and Christian von Sydow all in Germany from MWE, and François Feuillat in London from Willkie Farr & Gallagher.