Private Equity

KJK’s Private Equity attorneys represent a variety of private equity funds, management teams, independent sponsors, investors and portfolio companies. Our team gets deals done in a responsive and cost-effective manner that focuses on our clients and their business and investment goals.

To help maximize opportunities while minimizing risk, our Private Equity attorneys advise our private equity clients through the structuring, evaluation, negotiation and consummation of their capital raises, leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations, club transactions, minority investments and other acquisition, divestiture and exit transactions, the negotiation of their equity, debt and mezzanine financing arrangements, the preparation of their management equity and compensation programs, and counseling on their investment regulation and compliance matters.

Traditional private equity is typically for more mature companies, especially companies that are struggling or at a point where ownership is looking to take a step back. Private equity investors typically will buy a whole company, bring it into their portfolio and take control of the acquired companies, sometimes keeping former management teams and sometimes installing new ones. Venture capital, on the other hand, is aimed at startups and usually takes the form of either convertible notes (a loan that converts to equity under certain circumstances) or a priced round (buying a set number of shares for a certain price).

Starting a private equity fund is a complex mix of business planning, legal strategy, brand development experience, marketing know-how and technological skill. If you have an idea for a fund, contact your attorney as soon as possible to start these discussions off on the right foot. KJK’s Private Equity attorneys work closely with you, your accountants and our Brand and Marketing teams to craft compelling and compliant narratives for when you are pitching investors and building your pipeline.

Middle market private equity is generally defined as investments by private equity firms in the range of $50 to $500 million dollars. And while the private equity market continues to grow, much of the middle market remains untapped for a number of reasons. If you’re a middle market company looking to sell, you need to make sure you have the right lawyers on your team as you start this process. Contact a KJK private equity or M&A attorney to discuss the top items to consider before, during and after this process.

“Steve has served as our trusted counsel since we began our first fund in 2007. He and KJK have been involved in all legal aspects of our business, including entity formation, providing ongoing regulatory compliance and handling the acquisition and legal needs of many of our portfolio companies.”