Coller Capital and Akin Gump Host Second ‘Women in Secondaries Network’ Event - an Evening with Col Dame Kelly Holmes (MBE mil)

(London) - Coller Capital, one of the world's foremost investors in private equity's secondary market, and leading international law firm Akin Gump are delighted to have hosted their second quarterly “Women in Secondaries” networking event on March 4 – an evening with double Olympic Champion, Col Dame Kelly Holmes (MBE mil).

The event was part of Coller Capital and Akin Gump’s Women in Secondaries Network, launched earlier this year. The Network seeks to empower, promote and support women working in the secondaries industry, through quarterly networking and knowledge-sharing events for industry peers and contacts.

This second, jointly hosted virtual event was attended by a diverse range of guests from the secondaries industry and presented a highly inspirational fireside chat with Dame Kelly. Hosted by co-founders of the network Mary Lavelle, partner at Akin Gump, and Louise Boothby, partner at Coller Capital, it featured an introduction from Akin Gump chairperson Kim Koopersmith.  Dame Kelly then spoke candidly about her life and career both in competitive international athletics and the army, touching upon topics around nurturing of talent, motivation, strategic vision, mental health struggles, mentoring and the importance of physical health for one’s overall wellbeing. This was followed by an engaging Q&A session.

“The event last night was a huge success and we are immensely grateful to Dame Kelly for taking the time to talk to us,” commented Louise Boothby. “The launch of Coller Capital and Akin Gump’s Women in Secondaries Network could not have come at a better time.  In just three months we have 113 members, with new members joining up regularly.  The insight and support we can offer to women across the private equity and finance sectors will help them to succeed, bringing together as it does like-minded women keen to support each other's professional development.”

Ms. Lavelle continued, “This initiative is already shedding light on the immense possibilities for the next generation of female leaders in secondaries. Dame Kelly’s inspirational fireside chat gave us and our attendees some incredible food for thought on topics such as nurturing talent, striving for success and employing successful mentoring. We have already highlighted the fact that while there is no doubt women are under-represented in senior positions within private equity, there is a huge appetite to fix that. We are looking forward to the possibility of holding in-person events by the end of the year where we can really build on these themes, and industry knowledge-sharing, by finally getting everyone together under one roof.” 

For anyone wishing to attend future quarterly events organized by the Women in Secondaries Network, please contact Mary Lavelle and John Daghlian at Akin Gump at wis@akingump.com.

About Akin Gump

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.

About Coller Capital

Coller Capital, founded in 1990, is one of the world's leading investors in private equity's secondary market – widely acknowledged as an innovator and a stand-out player at the complex end of secondaries. The firm provides liquidity solutions to private equity investors worldwide, acquiring interests in private equity funds, portfolios of private companies, and other private equity-related assets. With headquarters in London, and offices in New York and Hong Kong, Coller Capital’s multinational investment team has a truly global reach. Coller Capital closed its eighth fund - Coller International Partners VIII (CIP VIII) - in January 2021, with committed capital (including co-investment vehicles) of just over $9 billion.

About Akin Gump’s Secondaries Practice

Akin Gump is a leader in the secondary transactions market, advising many of the world’s premier secondary funds, institutional investors and investment funds, including buyers, sellers and sponsors on the creation of liquidity solutions in alternative assets. The team’s experience spans all asset classes, including private equity, real estate, credit, venture capital, energy/renewables and hedge, with dedicated lawyers in all major financial centers.

A key part of the firm’s global investment management practice, liquidity solution transactions are an area the firm’s lawyers have been advising on for over twenty years, from the first European billion dollar secondary transaction onwards. Akin Gump has advised on some of the industry’s largest and most transformative transactions, which, together with its long-standing relationship with key intermediaries, enables the firm to execute transactions of all sizes and complexity anywhere in the world and give clients unique insights into the market.  

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