Akin Gump Welcomes Private Equity Partner Elazar Guttman in New York
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(New York) – Akin Gump today announced that Elazar Guttman has joined the firm as a partner in its private equity practice in New York. Mr. Guttman, who leads buyouts and other private equity investments, comes to the firm from Kirkland & Ellis, where he had been a partner in its transactional private equity group.
Mr. Guttman advises private equity firms and their portfolio companies on a wide variety of domestic and cross-border leveraged buyouts and other complex business transactions, including acquisitions, divestitures, debt and equity financings, growth capital investments, joint ventures, and in- and out-of-court restructurings. His work has extended across numerous industries, including business services, financial services, logistics/transportation services, environmental services, automotive, oil and gas services, apparel, manufacturing, technology, consumer products, real estate, retail, food and beverage, industrials and health care.
Mr. Guttman’s arrival adds further depth to Akin Gump’s private equity transactional offerings firmwide, joining with a number of PE-focused partners whom the firm has welcomed this year.
“We have been sharply focused on building out our strengths in private equity transactional work across the firm, and Elazar represents another stellar addition,” said Kim Koopersmith, chairperson of Akin Gump. “His arrival further boosts our standing as a go-to firm for sponsors and their portfolio companies for crucial, high-value deals. I am very pleased to welcome Elazar to the firm.”
Jeffrey Kochian, head of Akin Gump’s corporate practice, added, “Elazar brings the kind of depth and variety of experience that our clients will find invaluable. I am excited that he is joining the team.”
Mr. Guttman commented, “Akin Gump offers an ideal platform both to continue to serve my clients in today’s dynamic deal environment and to continue to grow my practice. The sustained growth of Akin Gump’s private equity team and prowess of the firm’s leveraged finance, capital markets, fund formation, tax, financial restructuring, trade and regulatory teams will be a huge benefit to my clients. I am thrilled to be here.”
Mr. Guttman received his J.D. in 2002 from New York University School of Law, and his B.A. from Brooklyn College in 1998.
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 LBO and buyout funds, as well as energy, private debt, distressed, activist shareholder, secondary and other sector-specific funds.
The past year has seen Akin Gump make a number of significant additions to its private equity team, particularly in London. Gavin Weir, a corporate M&A and private equity transactional partner, joined the firm in September, followed in October by Shaun Lascelles and Simon Rootsey, who both focus on corporate and private equity transactions in the energy sector. Weyinmi Popo, who concentrates on Africa PE deals, has also joined the firm.
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP is a leading international law firm with more than 1,000 lawyers and advisors in offices throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
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