Akin Gump Adds Leading Private Equity Team
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(New York) – Akin Gump is pleased to announce that Amy Wollensack and Sergio Urias have joined the firm in the New York office as partners in its private equity practice. Ms. Wollensack and Mr. Urias are widely respected for representing a diverse mix of middle-market private equity funds in complex M&A transactions globally. Mr. Urias also brings a premier practice representing investment funds and strategic clients in Latin America.
“Amy and Sergio are powerhouse additions to our private equity team” commented Akin Gump chairperson Kim Koopersmith. “They have advised on transformational transactions for an impressive roster of private equity clients and their portfolio companies. I am thrilled to welcome them to the firm.”
Corporate practice co-head Zachary Wittenberg added, “Amy and Sergio are highly talented dealmakers. Their arrival adds scale to our private equity footprint, and their experience will be a terrific benefit to Akin Gump’s private equity and other financial sponsor clients.”
Ms. Wollensack said of the move, “Akin Gump has a long history in the private equity world, and has worked with many of the industry’s premier investors. We are delighted to be joining such a strong platform that was built to represent sponsors.”
Added Mr. Urias, “We are very excited to be joining Akin Gump. We have been impressed by Akin Gump’s breadth of experience in the investment management industry and focused approach to growth. I am also looking forward to working with our new colleagues around the firm to further expand its reach in Latin America.”
About Ms. Wollensack
Ms. Wollensack represents private equity funds and other clients in a wide range of complex transactions such as leveraged buyouts, growth equity investments, recapitalizations, mergers and acquisitions, and other transactional matters. Ms. Wollensack was recognized among The Deal’s Top Women Dealmakers in 2021 and is highly regarded by IFLR1000 in the area of private equity. Ms. Wollensack earned her J.D. from Washington University, a BSN/MSN from Virginia Commonwealth University and a B.S. from University of Richmond.
About Mr. Urias
Mr. Urias’ practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, recapitalizations, leveraged buyouts, growth equity investments and related corporate transactions for leading private equity funds and their portfolio companies as well as buyers and sellers in the United States and throughout Latin America. Mr. Urias was recognized among The American Lawyer Dealmakers of the Year in 2020 and Latinvex’s 2022 list of Latin America’s Top 100 Lawyers as well as for his role in LatinFinance’s 2021 Private Equity Deal of the Year.
Mr. Urias earned his L.L.M. from Harvard Law School and his J.D. from Escuela Libre de Derecho.
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.
About Akin Gump’s Latin America Practice
Akin Gump’s multidisciplinary Latin America practice comprises leading lawyers that offer significant experience representing governments in the privatization of assets and foreign investors in the acquisition of state-owned assets being privatized. Our team also regularly represent private investors in the acquisition and disposition of assets and the establishment of joint ventures throughout the region. From Mexico to Argentina and throughout the Caribbean, we provide top legal and policy counsel through our integrated transactional, regulatory, policy and dispute resolution practices.
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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