K&L Gates‘ private equity team comprehensively guides middle-market private equity funds such as Incline Equity and Falfurrias Capital through their investment lifecycles by offering transactional, finance, and regulatory advice in connection with growth investments, PIPE transactions, and leveraged buyouts as well as with high-value exits. The practice also specialises in handling mergers and add-on transactions for private equity-backed portfolio companies. The team is led by Rick Giovannelli, an authority in cross-border private equity and debt finance transactions, from the Charlotte office, which is also home to cross-border M&A expert Kevin Stichter. Curt Anderson and Christopher Thel, who joined the Pittsburgh office from Dentons Cohen & Grigsby in January 2023, bolster the team’s strengths in private equity transactions within the manufacturing, consumer, and healthcare sectors.
Key clients
- CG HoldCo, LLC et al.
- Falfurrias Capital Partners
- Incline Equity Partners
- Lincoln Park Capital Fund
- Pike Street Capital
- St. Cloud Capital Partners III SBIC, L.P.
Work highlights
- Represented Incline Ascent Fund in its leveraged buyout of Smile Source, structured as a merger.
- Advised Falfurrias Capital Partners on its investment in Brainlabs, a full-service media agency.
- Represented affiliates of Soundcore Capital Partners, as well as its portfolio company Custom Goods, in connection with the sale of Custom Goods to affiliates of Angeles Equity Partners.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Rick Giovannelli