Akin Gump Marks Continued Corporate Growth with Two Private Equity Partners
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(New York) – Akin Gump is pleased to announce that Michelle Chan and Daniel Tavakoli have joined the firm’s New York office as partners in its private equity practice. They join the firm from Covington & Burling, following the arrival of their former colleagues Amy Wollensack and Sergio Urias earlier this month.
Ms. Chan and Mr. Tavakoli primarily represent private equity sponsors in a wide range of complex middle-market transactions, including leveraged buyouts and private equity investments, other M&A transactions, and corporate governance matters. Ms. Chan and Mr. Tavakoli also counsel private equity sponsor portfolio companies on a variety of corporate and strategic matters.
“I’m thrilled to have Michelle and Daniel on board,” said Akin Gump chairperson Kim Koopersmith. “Together with Amy and Sergio, this is a stellar group of lawyers who enhance our ability to work with top private equity clients on executing their transactional strategies.”
Added corporate practice co-head Zachary Wittenberg, “This duo is a terrific addition to our growing private equity roster. Michelle and Daniel’s arrival brings substantial experience to the team and will significantly benefit our clients in the PE space.”
Commenting on the move, Ms. Chan said, “Akin Gump is renowned for its corporate practice, and the breadth and depth of its private equity work presented an exciting opportunity to work with an incredible team. Plus, I am thrilled to continue to work alongside Amy and Sergio.”
“Amy, Sergio, Michelle and I have collaborated on some very exciting private equity transactions, and I am excited to rejoin the team. Akin Gump has a deep bench of talented lawyers, and the synergies provided by its private equity platform provide us with a wonderful opportunity to continue to grow and develop our practice,” said Mr. Tavakoli.
About Ms. Chan
Ms. Chan’s practice focuses on complex business transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, for private equity clients and private companies across various industries. She also represents private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies in day-to-day corporate issues and corporate governance matters. Ms. Chan earned her J.D. from Columbia Law School in 2013 and B.A. from Dartmouth College in 2010.
About Mr. Tavakoli
Mr. Tavakoli has significant experience counseling private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies, as well as public companies, in a wide range of complex transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, joint ventures, minority investments, divestitures, venture capital and growth equity investments and general corporate matters. This year, he was selected among Private Equity International’s “40 Under 40: Future Leader of Private Equity.” Mr. Tavakoli earned his J.D., cum laude, from Georgetown University Law Center in 2013; M.B.A., with honors, from University of Rochester in 2010; and B.B.A. from Queens College, City University of New York, summa cum laude, in 2008.
About Akin Gump’s Private Equity Practice
Akin Gump’s private equity practice brings together a global M&A team focused on clients across the funds space with one of the world’s leading investment management and tax teams. With more than 40 years of experience advising private equity funds, the firm has helped some of the industry’s pioneers form funds and deploy capital around the world since the earliest days of the modern funds industry. Clients include traditional leveraged buyout and buyout funds, as well as energy, private debt, distressed, activist shareholder, secondary and other sector specific funds.
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP is a leading international law firm with more than 900 lawyers and advisors in offices throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
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