Private Equity

Creating value for portfolio companies

At Foot Anstey, our acclaimed Private Equity team specialise in advising portfolio companies across all stages of the investment journey.

From acquisition to exit

With a deep understanding of how Private Equity firms and their portfolio companies operate, we help create and maximise value for our clients throughout the investment lifecycle.

We offer expertise in all areas of portfolio company management, including post-acquisition integration, ongoing operational advice, risk and compliance management and getting the business exit ready.

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The investment lifecycle

Stage 1: Acquisition

Our team ensures a smooth acquisition process with strategic alignment and risk identification from the start.

How we can help:

  • Legal aspects of initial acquisition and focussed due diligence.
  • Mitigating unforeseen consequences in acquisition or finance documents.
  • Drafting service agreements that protect business and investors.
  • Advising on PE-specific structuring mechanics, including equity capital structure and navigating multiple lending facilities.

Stage 2: Post-acquisition integration

We help portfolio companies realise synergies, deliver efficiencies, and align people and cultures post-acquisition.

How we can help:

  • Supporting planning, communications and consultation processes.
  • Providing strategic advice on legal risk and compliance.
  • Assisting with post-completion steps, integration processes and BAU workstreams.

Stage 3: Operational phase

Balancing routine business advice with exit risks, guiding informed decisions throughout the operational phase.

How we can help:

  • Comprehensive strategy support through the lifecycle of a PE-backed company.
  • Advising on BAU issues, large-scale projects and exit implications.
  • Understanding corporate structures and resolving ongoing disputes.
  • Navigating various incentivisation models and ensuring alignment with post-acquisition goals.
  • Reviewing finance documents for lender compliance and streamlining acquisition-related accessions.
  • Troubleshooting to enhance value and profitability.

Stage 4: Getting exit ready

Ensuring a smooth and efficient sale process by preparing the portfolio for exit.

How we can help:

  • Identifying and resolving issues pre-sale.
  • Presenting risks to buyers in a way that alleviates concerns.
  • Ensuring good governance with our Governance Reporting Information Portal (GRIP).
  • Seeking requisite consents/approvals in good time to avoid transaction delays.

Stage 5: Sale

Supporting on the sale itself.

How we can help:

  • Advising on the full lifecycle of a PE investment to maximise returns for investors, culminating in the ultimate disposal of the business, delivering value to investors.

Stage 1: Acquisition

Our team ensures a smooth acquisition process with strategic alignment and risk identification from the start.

How we can help:

  • Legal aspects of initial acquisition and focussed due diligence.
  • Mitigating unforeseen consequences in acquisition or finance documents.
  • Drafting service agreements that protect business and investors.
  • Advising on PE-specific structuring mechanics, including equity capital structure and navigating multiple lending facilities.

Stage 2: Post-acquisition integration

We help portfolio companies realise synergies, deliver efficiencies, and align people and cultures post-acquisition.

How we can help:

  • Supporting planning, communications and consultation processes.
  • Providing strategic advice on legal risk and compliance.
  • Assisting with post-completion steps, integration processes and BAU workstreams.

Stage 3: Operational phase

Balancing routine business advice with exit risks, guiding informed decisions throughout the operational phase.

How we can help:

  • Comprehensive strategy support through the lifecycle of a PE-backed company.
  • Advising on BAU issues, large-scale projects and exit implications.
  • Understanding corporate structures and resolving ongoing disputes.
  • Navigating various incentivisation models and ensuring alignment with post-acquisition goals.
  • Reviewing finance documents for lender compliance and streamlining acquisition-related accessions.
  • Troubleshooting to enhance value and profitability.

Stage 4: Getting exit ready

Ensuring a smooth and efficient sale process by preparing the portfolio for exit.

How we can help:

  • Identifying and resolving issues pre-sale.
  • Presenting risks to buyers in a way that alleviates concerns.
  • Ensuring good governance with our Governance Reporting Information Portal (GRIP).
  • Seeking requisite consents/approvals in good time to avoid transaction delays.

Stage 5: Sale

Supporting on the sale itself.

How we can help:

  • Advising on the full lifecycle of a PE investment to maximise returns for investors, culminating in the ultimate disposal of the business, delivering value to investors.

Why choose Foot Anstey?

Our specialists offer a diverse skill set spanning corporate, banking, employment, contracts, IP, tech, data privacy, dispute resolution, and real estate, uniquely tailored to the Private Equity sector.

Comprehensive support

  • Expertise from acquisition to exit.
  • Integration, ongoing operational advice, risk and compliance management.
  • Exit preparation and strategy.

Beyond traditional services

  • Corporate, banking, employment, contracts, IP, tech, data privacy, dispute resolution, real estate expertise.
  • Tailored solutions for the Private Equity sector.

Holistic partnership

  • Deep connections with portfolio clients.
  • Consistent support understanding unique needs and objectives.

Aligned with PE expectations

  • Representation of multiple PE houses.
  • Balancing investor expectations and driving business growth.

Focus on leadership and equity

  • Recognising the pivotal role of management teams.
  • Understanding the emotional value attached to equity beyond financial metrics.

Creating value across the investment lifecycle

Meet our Private Equity team and discover how Foot Anstey provides expert guidance and strategies to maximise value at every stage of the investment lifecycle.

Banking & Finance

Our experienced Banking and Finance team can provide you with commercial advice during the life of a facility agreement, whether or not our team was involved on the initial financing.

Meet Katie-Jane

Commercial, Tech & Data

Our Commercial, Tech & Data team draws from a wealth of experience obtained acting for a variety of national and international clients and successfully helps to manage risk and maximise commercial opportunities across all aspects of business throughout the investment lifecycle of a company. This includes advising on commercial contracts, the exploitation and protection of intellectual property, data privacy compliance and the use of IT and telecommunications.

Meet Ashley

Corporate

Our Corporate team work as a single team, developing our national and international client base and advising on complex, high value M&A, Private Equity and investments. We have a deep specialism in PE backed portfolio M&A: bolt-ons and buy-and-build investment propositions.

Meet Adam & Emma

Dispute Resolution

Our Dispute Resolution team work with PE-owned businesses in both fund and portfolio level issues, using their expertise as a tool to help craft advice, clear barriers and unlock value for clients. We also regularly work at both the point of investment into and exit from PE Portfolio companies and are adept at ensuring that there are no unexpected or unaddressed risk issues, which could otherwise create deal risk at those key points in an investment cycle.

Meet Pete

Employment

Our Employment team has a wealth of experience advising Private Equity backed companies on a range of HR and employment issues throughout the investment lifecycle, from day-to-day employee relations advice to national and international transactions, TUPE and outsourcings and post-acquisition integration. We have considerable experience advising on management team changes and strategic board issues against the backdrop of equity and other incentive arrangements.

Meet Claire

Real Estate

We provide strategic, problem-solving advice in all aspects of Real Estate matters, using our broad range of experience and, in particular, our Private Equity sector experience to support you throughout the portfolio lifecycle from acquisition through to exit. We have a particular strength in managing post-completion integration and ‘business as usual’ portfolio management.

Meet Beth

What do our clients say?

“Foot Anstey’s proactive and pragmatic approach, combined with the team’s deep knowledge of our business and industry, made a complicated integration a success. Having their specialist expertise on hand helped us to fulfil our strategic and commercial objectives, and deliver the project on time, and on budget.”

Mark Roome Legal Counsel, Travel Chapter

“Foot Anstey’s legal expertise and guidance were invaluable throughout this transaction, ensuring a smooth and efficient process from start to finish.”

Paul Ward Managing Director, Isopharm

Key contacts

Get in touch

Our expert team is here to help – to find out more or arrange an initial discussion, please contact us today.

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