John Daghlian
Partner Emeritus
- Advised on some of the largest and most complex secondary transactions for over two decades.
- Handled a range of U.K. and international private equity-driven transactions.
- Advised both general partners and a number of major investors.
John retired from the partnership in 2023. John began working on private equity transactions in 1990, carrying the bags on a buyout, and advised on his first fund formation in 1994. He acted on a broad range of international and domestic private equity-driven transactions, including pretty much every kind of secondary transaction ever dreamt of, plus:
- The establishment of private funds
- Private equity portfolio transactions/liquidity solutions/secondary tenders/GP led transactions
- Management buyouts
- Secondary buyouts
- Publicly traded funds
- General partner removal and LPAC counselling.
John advised both general partners and a number of major investors, giving him authoritative insight into the issues both sides face.
John was lauded by Chambers UK, which noted his “in-depth knowledge of all aspects of fund requirements,” as well as his “brilliant negotiating skills” and “if you are going into a tough meeting, he is the lawyer you want with you.”
- Extensive work on secondary transactions, including leading the first European $1-billion secondary deal and executed many billions’ worth of transactions, including the first tender offer to investors in an Indian fund.
- Worked on pioneering Swedish onshore fund structures.
- Advised on the establishment of funds related to leveraged buy-outs, venture capital, clean tech and renewable energy, emerging markets, real estate and distressed debt and mezzanine investment.
- Assisted with the establishment of country-specific funds, including funds for Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, Hungary, Sweden, China and India.
- Acted on innumerable spin-outs of private equity teams from financial institutions.
*List includes work competed prior to joining Akin.
EducationL.P.C., Lancaster Gate College of Law
LL.B., University of Cambridge, 1987
L.P.C., Lancaster Gate College of Law
LL.B., University of Cambridge, 1987
Bar AdmissionsSolicitor, England and Wales
Solicitor, England and Wales
- The Legal 500 UK,Hall of Fame: Private Funds, 2022.
- Chambers UK, Investment Funds: Private Equity, 2005 to 2024.
- The Legal 500 UK, Hall of Fame: Investment Fund Formation and Management: Private Funds.
- IFLR1000 UK, Highly Regarded, Investment Funds, 2021.
- The Best Lawyers UK, Investment Funds, 2009 to 2022.
- Who’s Who Legal, Private Funds – Formation, 2020.
- Euromoney, Banking, Finance and Transactional Expert Guide, 2020.
- Euromoney,Investment Funds Expert Guide, 2020.
- Chambers Europe, Investment Funds: Private Equity, 2020 to 2022.
- International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers, Private Equity, 2007 to 2018.
- Legal Business Awards, Private Equity Team of the Year, 2013.
- Panel Moderator, “State of the Union: Akin and Rede Partners Discuss the Outlook for Private Equity Primaries and Secondaries,” Webinar, London, November 2020.
- Panel Moderator, “Never Waste a Good Crisis: Creative Capital Deployment in a Dislocated Market,” SuperInvestor, London, November 2020.
- Panel Moderator, “GP-led Deals Version 2.0,” SuperReturn International, Berlin, February 2020.
- Panel Moderator, “Never waste a good crisis: creative capital deployment in a dislocated market,” SuperInvestor, London, November 2020.
- Panelist, “GP Transactions,” IBA Private Equity Transactions Symposium, London, November 2019.
- Panel Moderator, “The Secondaries Market, But Not As We Know It: Market Development Innovation and Non-Traditional Deals,” SuperInvestor, Amsterdam, November 2019.
- Panelist, “Post-Abraaj Reflections,” EMPEA Legal and Regulatory Council Meeting, London, October 2019.
- Panel Moderator, “Secondaries: The Dark Horse of the Private Equity Market,” SuperReturn CFO/COO, Amsterdam, September 2019.
