Secondaries | Legal Services

Secondaries

Market-leading European secondaries practice with two Band 1 ranked partners - delivering expert, integrated support for your most complex transactions.

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12

Secondaries Professionals

32

Years of Collective Partner Experience

2025

Ranked Band 1, Secondaries

Chambers UK

2024

Secondaries Law firm of the Year (EMEA)

PEI Awards

Our market-leading secondaries team has been at the forefront of the secondaries market since its inception, and we have acted as legal counsel on many of the largest and most complex secondaries transactions in recent years. We are the only secondaries team that has two Band 1 ranked partners.

We have a market-leading team with experience and skill. Our team has acted on the full range of secondaries transactions including traditional secondary sales, stapled secondaries and portfolio transactions, team spin-outs and GP-led solutions (including tender offers, fund-to-fund transfers and bespoke continuation funds). We are centred around such transactions and have recent and relevant experience to draw upon.

Our dedicated team of secondaries lawyers is made up of three specialist partners and a team of associates who have deep experience of secondary transactions of all types. The team is fully integrated with our private fund structuring and private equity transactional teams.

We take a legally rigorous approach, set against a commercial backdrop, an understanding of the needs of each deal and a focus on efficient execution. We act both for and against the main players of the secondaries market on a day-to-day basis. We understand the dynamics of the ‘secondaries village’ and the need for a collaborative approach.

Exceptionally knowledgeable and professional.

Chambers UK 2025

We regularly advise on secondaries transactions including:

  • GP-led continuation vehicles
  • LP-portfolio disposals and acquisitions
  • Tender offers
  • Strip sales
  • Preferred equity transactions

Our Services

Expert guidance in structuring and executing GP-led liquidity solutions

 

  • DPE Deutsche Private Equity continuation vehicle establishment
    Structuring and launching a €708 million continuation fund, enabling the firm to retain and grow key assets. Supported Germany’s largest GP-led secondary, helping DPE secure long-term value for investors.
  • Bid Equity Continuation Fund I
    Establishing a $300 million continuation fund, supporting long-term value creation for portfolio companies everii and JustRelate.
  • Greenpeak Continuation Fund I 
    €347 million continuation vehicle to maintain investment in Academia and Certania, two strongly performing lab and TIC groups started and built up by GREENPEAK's Fund II.
  • Vaaka Partners on Tietokeskus continuation vehicle
    Structuring a €73 million Finnish continuation vehicle, enabling liquidity options and supporting the ongoing growth of a major IT services company.
  • Capiton AG - Single asset continuation vehicle for KG-Pharma Group
    Structuring and executing a single asset continuation vehicle for KG-Pharma Group, enabling existing and new investors to participate alongside Pantheon and Abrdn, and supporting client objectives for liquidity and value creation.
  • Capiton AG - GP-led continuation vehicle for TMT assets 
    Establishing a GP-led continuation vehicle for two high-performing TMT assets from capiton V, facilitating continued growth and investor alignment through a tailored secondary transaction.
  • Ufenau Capital Partners
    Transferring two assets from its German Asset Light Fund to a continuation vehicle. Helped the client achieve liquidity and ongoing management of high-performing investments.
  • Ufenau Capital Partners
    Advised on a second GP-led secondaries deal, selling three companies from its fifth and sixth funds to a €450 million continuation vehicle. Helped secure investor support despite challenging market conditions.
  • Capvis AG continuation vehicle for portfolio companies 
    Creating a continuation vehicle for three portfolio companies, backed by leading secondary investors. Enabled Capvis to deliver liquidity and future growth for investors and management teams.

 

Strategic investor support in GP-led secondary transactions

 

Kline Hill Partners

  • Acorn Sentry Aerospares CV secondary acquisition
    $350 million secondary acquisition, enabling efficient portfolio management and supporting strategic growth in the aviation sector.
  • PHI Continuation Fund I formation 
    Structuring and launching a €212 million continuation fund, enabling ongoing investment in high-performing assets.
  • Phoenix PEP Growth Partnership L.P 
    Structuring a £260 million secondary deal, providing strategic legal guidance to optimise fund performance and investor returns.
  • Investcorp Technology Partners Nexus
    $100 million secondary investment, enhancing access to innovative technology assets.
  • Anchorage Co-Investment Fund V secondary transaction
    $250 million secondary transaction, delivering liquidity solutions for co-investors.
  • Anchorage Capital Partners continuation vehicle investment 
    $135 million co-lead investment into a continuation vehicle organised by Anchorage Capital Partners, delivering liquidity and portfolio flexibility.

Five Arrows Secondary Investments

  • Sagard Continuation Funds structuring
    €250 million continuation funds, ensuring seamless asset transition and investor alignment.
  • LEA Continuation Fund formation 
    €650 million formation of a continuation fund, supporting long-term growth strategies.
  • EMZ Partners Labelys and Vulcain Engineering continuation vehicle commitment 
    €80 million commitment to a continuation vehicle managed by EMZ Partners, supporting strategic investment in French industrial and engineering firms.
  • Eurazeo I-TRACING Continuation Vehicle
    Advised TPG and Five Arrows as co-lead investors on their respective commitments to a €180 million single asset continuation vehicle managed by Eurazeo to support the growth of iTracing.

Other

  • Astorg Syclef Continuation Fund
    Advised Astorg on its role as co-lead investor on the €530 million continuation fund, enabling the retention and further development of Syclef.
  • Hayfin Implio Orphan Drugs AB 
    €650 million secondary sale, facilitating liquidity and continued investment in the life sciences sector.
  • Apheon TMC HDC Long Term Value Fund formation
    €435 million formation of a long-term value fund, enabling sustained investment in technology and healthcare.
  • TPG Citadel Continuation Fund SLP structuring
    €180 million continuation fund, facilitating ongoing management of core assets.
  • Hayfin Investcorp Technology HWG CV-Lux secondary investment 
    €240 million secondary investment, advancing strategic objectives in the technology sector.
  • L Capital Partners FineLine CV LP secondary transaction 
    $155 million secondary transaction, providing legal expertise to streamline fund operations.
  • TPG Eurazeo Citadel Continuation Vehicle commitment 
    €77 million commitment to a continuation vehicle managed by Eurazeo, enabling ongoing participation in core investments.
     

Structuring and negotiating the acquisition and disposal of portfolios of fund interests

 

  • Tesco Pension Trustees Limited (trustee of the Tesco PLC Pension Scheme) 
    Sale of a portfolio of 47 limited partnership interests worth c. $1 billion to six buyer groups.
  • ICG 
    Acquisition of c.170 partnership interests across multiple jurisdictions from seven fund-of-funds sellers with a value of €380 million.
  • Phillipos
    Advised the Swiss family office on their series of portfolio disposals.
  • Unigestion
    SH has a 17-year relationship with Unigestion as a trusted advisor for the whole group. Advised on over 250+ secondaries transactions, including over 20 portfolio disposals.

Awards and Recognition

Latest News & Insights

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Secondaries

Stephenson Harwood advises GREENPEAK Management GmbH on GP-led €350 million Impact Fund

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London

Gabriel Boghossian named in PEI’s Future Leaders of Private Equity list

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London

Stephenson Harwood advises capiton on a €248 million GP-led secondary transaction

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