Benedict Watson
Counsel
Areas of Focus
- Private Funds Liquidity Solutions
- Investment Management
- Fund Formation
- Fund Manager Transactions
- Institutional Investors
- Private Equity Transactions
- Private Equity
- Credit Funds
- Real Estate & Infrastructure Funds
- Energy & Infrastructure Private Equity
- Private Capital
- Focuses on private investment funds.
Benedict Watson advises buyers and sellers on the full spectrum of secondary and associated liquidity transactions, with a particular focus on portfolio of interest sales and continuation vehicles.
He also counsels sponsors (across strategies) on both fund formation and ongoing matters during the life of a fund and also has experience advising international investors, sovereign wealth funds and fund-of-funds on various aspects of their investments – both primary and secondary. Additionally, Ben was seconded to a leading private equity secondaries firm.
Prior to joining Akin, Benedict trained and qualified as an associate at a leading U.S. law firm, which included a secondment to the firm’s Hong Kong office.
- Advised a global private equity secondaries firm, on a fund book secondaries acquisition involving a portfolio of assets, with a total NAV of approx. $500 million (with a further syndication element).
- Represented the seller in the sale of an LP-interests portfolio, comprising in excess of 80 interests with NAV in excess of $700 million.
- Advised a blue-chip private equity secondaries firm on a managed transaction with a leading institutional investor, involving the indirect sale of a portfolio of private equity interests by a pension scheme.
- Advised on the acquisition of interests in a continuation fund, raising approximately $575 million, for a co-lead investor.
- Advised on the acquisition of interests in a continuation fund, raising approximately $1.2 billion, for a lead investor.
“Benedict Watson will always come up with a creative solution and has the charm to overcome the most challenging and prickly counterparties.”
“Ben Watson is thoughtful, with strong attention to detail.”
Legal 500 UK, 2025
EducationL.P.C., BPP University Law School, England, 2015
GDL, BPP University Law School, England, 2014
Bachelor of Arts in History, University of Bristol, 2013
L.P.C., BPP University Law School, England, 2015
GDL, BPP University Law School, England, 2014
Bachelor of Arts in History, University of Bristol, 2013
Bar AdmissionsSolicitor, England and Wales
Solicitor, England and Wales
