‘Working in private markets keeps you on your toes’ – Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan’s Melanie Sanchez

Posted on | and
‘Working in private markets keeps you on your toes’ – Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan’s Melanie Sanchez

Melanie Sanchez – Global general counsel, investments, Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan

Clayton Utz, 2005-06
Blake, Cassels & Graydon, 2006-14
Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, 2014-present

I ended up working on private equity deals not by design, but rather by chance. I started out my career in Australia as a financing lawyer and when I moved to Canada I transitioned to general corporate work. Over time my practice evolved to support primarily US private equity clients investing into the mid-market in Canada. Since moving in-house I have had the opportunity to support our Ontario Teachers’ private equity team globally, as well as our other asset classes. Continue reading “‘Working in private markets keeps you on your toes’ – Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan’s Melanie Sanchez”

‘If you like a fast pace, private equity will deliver’ – CPP Investments Europe legal chief Leigh Partridge

Posted on | and
‘If you like a fast pace, private equity will deliver’ – CPP Investments Europe legal chief Leigh Partridge

Leigh Partridge – Managing director, head of legal (Europe), CPP Investments

Year of qualification: 2008
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, 2006-17
CPP Investments | Investissements RPC, 2017-present

I love the diversity of deals that come across my desk as a PE lawyer. The opportunity to learn about different sectors and businesses while still building deep relationships with colleagues. I am also one of those lawyers who likes the adrenaline rush of getting a deal over the line, and PE ticks that box. Continue reading “‘If you like a fast pace, private equity will deliver’ – CPP Investments Europe legal chief Leigh Partridge”

‘The PE industry is in a unique position to effect change’ – SilverLake EMEA GC Katherine Brody

Posted on | and
‘The PE industry is in a unique position to effect change’ – SilverLake EMEA GC Katherine Brody

Katherine Brody – General counsel (EMEA), Silver Lake

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, 2008-14
Silver Lake, 2014-present

Silver Lake turned me into a private equity lawyer. Before that I was working as an M&A generalist, mostly for large corporate clients, in private practice at Skadden in London. This was a decade ago, and I could see that private equity was having a moment – abundant capital to deploy, the most exciting, complex and high-profile transactions and I wanted to be a part of that. I saw going in-house with Silver Lake as an opportunity to work closely with some of the most sophisticated investors in the market on cutting-edge transactions. Continue reading “‘The PE industry is in a unique position to effect change’ – SilverLake EMEA GC Katherine Brody”

‘In private equity, no day is ever the same’ – Montagu GC Alexandra Openshaw

Posted on | and
‘In private equity, no day is ever the same’ – Montagu GC Alexandra Openshaw

Alexandra Openshaw – General counsel, Montagu

Year of qualification: 2010
Macfarlanes, 2008-15
Winton Group, 2016-23
Montagu, 2023-present

Why did you want to become a private equity lawyer?

I was previously a funds lawyer at a private practice firm and wanted to be client-side from early on. No day is ever the same – there’s so much for a lawyer to be involved in and it’s very fast-paced, which I enjoy.

What has been the most memorable moment or deal of your in-house career?

Not sure I have one moment – I have been very lucky to be involved in many projects ranging from fund launches, spin-outs, and fund mergers with talented colleagues.

What do you think will be the biggest issues in private equity in the coming years?

PE is currently facing a new swathe of regulation (not all of it drafted with PE in mind), particularly in the US and separately in the ESG/D&I space. We’re preparing by using advisers where appropriate, and trying to get on top of issues early.

Across the board in law, there’s likely to be an increase in adopting AI solutions for certain tasks, which creates a big opportunities (particularly in-house where we typically have very small legal teams) but also requires adopting different ways of working.

Why would you recommend a career in private equity?

In private equity, every day is different and the work is incredibly varied – there’s something for every legal specialism. You also get to work with great people.

Go to the Private Equity Elite contents.

‘Do not wait until creditors are banging down the door’ – why preparation is key as restructurings pick up

Posted on |
‘Do not wait until creditors are banging down the door’ – why preparation is key as restructurings pick up

Restructuring partners have been predicting a surge in corporate restructurings and insolvencies for years. But despite Covid, conflict and rising inflation the boom in such work has yet to materialise to any significant level.

Continue reading “‘Do not wait until creditors are banging down the door’ – why preparation is key as restructurings pick up”

Labour and employment: what the new government means for workers’ rights

Posted on |
Labour and employment: what the new government means for workers’ rights

After 14 years of Conservative rule, the Labour Party swept into power on 4 July 2024, setting the stage for transformative changes in UK employment law. Labour’s Plan to Make Work Pay promises a bold agenda of reforms aimed at boosting worker protection, ensuring fair pay, and modernising workplace practices. These sweeping changes will have significant implications for employers across various sectors. But what do these reforms mean for employers and their in-house lawyers, and how can they stay ahead of the curve?

Continue reading “Labour and employment: what the new government means for workers’ rights”

Antitrust renaissance: navigating deals amid agency crackdowns

Posted on |
Antitrust renaissance: navigating deals amid agency crackdowns

‘The UK competition practice has been transformed by Brexit’ observes Nick Levy, a partner in Cleary Gottlieb’s London antitrust team.

It’s well documented that since the UK’s exit from the EU, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has embraced a position of intensified scrutiny, leading to parallel investigations and outcomes with the European Commission (EC). Continue reading “Antitrust renaissance: navigating deals amid agency crackdowns”