Akin Adds Leading Lawyers in M&A and Real Estate Funds in Chicago

(Chicago) – Akin announced today that M&A partner Joshua La Vigne and investment management partner Jessica Pan have joined the firm from Mayer Brown in Chicago. Following the recent additions of investment management partner Wendy Dodson Gallegos and infrastructure M&A partner Jason Wagenmaker, Joshua and Jessica further expand Akin’s growing presence in Chicago and add depth to the firm's market-leading real estate fund formation and M&A practices.

"Joshua and Jessica are terrific additions to our M&A and real estate funds practices,” said Akin co-chair Abid Qureshi. “They have advised sophisticated sponsors in complex fund structuring matters and investors and strategics in global transactions, and our clients will benefit from their impressive track records and understanding of the market.”

La Vigne advises clients on mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures and corporate governance matters. He has advised on transactions in a variety of industries with a particular focus on infrastructure, as well as financial services technology, automotive and consumer finance, commercial finance, chemicals, technology and real estate.

Pan’s practice is focused on advising fund sponsors on the formation, marketing, management and regulatory compliance of private investment funds, including real estate and private equity funds. She has over fifteen years of experience working with fund sponsors, including many of the largest real estate firms, private equity firms and asset management institutions, to structure and negotiate U.S. and offshore private investment vehicles and their portfolio investments.

"We are excited to continue growing our team with strong lawyers like Joshua and Jessica, adding a wealth of experience and depth to our practices, advising clients on their most significant fundraising and M&A transactions" said corporate practice co-head Zachary Wittenberg. “Along with Jason and Wendy, they enhance our premier M&A and investment management groups, and we are delighted to welcome them to the firm.”

“We are delighted to welcome our two former partners and look forward to continuing to work with Jessica and Josh to support our real estate fund and infrastructure clients,” said Wendy Dodson Gallegos, an Akin investment management partner in Chicago. “Both bring a wealth of experience representing institutional sponsors on fund formation and complex transactions.”

"Akin has a comprehensive, fully integrated transactional team built to advise clients on their most complex and innovative deals,” said La Vigne. “It’s exciting to continue working with my long-time partners Jason, Wendy and Jessica as well as new Akin colleagues and I’m enormously enthusiastic about the opportunities ahead.” 

“I am thrilled to be joining Akin and its market-leading investment management platform, with strong complementary practices including tax, regulatory, litigation and public policy,” said Pan on her move to the firm. “I look forward to reuniting with former partners Wendy, Jason and Josh as well as working with new colleagues at Akin.”

About Akin's Corporate Practice

Our market-leading corporate lawyers work with clients to structure and execute complex transactions and devise creative debt and equity capital solutions around the world. Our team of 300+ transactional lawyers, in major financial centers on three continents, works across borders, industries and the capital structure.

We provide counsel to alternative capital providers, including private equity, private credit, infrastructure, sovereign wealth and other investment funds, public and private companies, boards of directors and family offices, in connection with mergers & acquisitions, capital solutions and other investments, debt financings and capital markets transactions, energy & infrastructure transactions and corporate governance matters worldwide.

About Akin's Investment Management Practice

Akin's investment management practice, comprising over 100 lawyers, is a recognized leader in the representation of large institutional and entrepreneurial fund sponsors and managers. We also serve as lead counsel to the world's premier investors and help them access opportunities in markets worldwide. Through its representation of a broad range of investment managers and institutional investors, Akin has unique insight on emerging trends across the private equity, credit and hedge fund industries. This knowledge and experience are particularly valuable to clients as convergence across asset classes continues to play out in the marketplace.

Akin is a leading international law firm with more than 900 lawyers in offices throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

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