Continuing a string of notable hires in New York, Pillsbury has further strengthened its M&A and Private Equity offerings with the addition of two more talented dealmakers, Jarrod D. Murphy and Ted Powers III. Murphy, previously at Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP, comes to Pillsbury as a partner. Powers joins as special counsel from Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP.  

“As Pillsbury has steadily expanded its corporate offering, the goal has always been to augment our established M&A strengths with a market-leading private equity platform,” noted Corporate & Securities practice section leader Bob Robbins. “The addition of Jarrod and Ted—who will work closely with our private equity team leader, Steve Amdur—is a significant step in that effort, and we’re happy to have them on board.”

Regarded as one of the private equity market’s most promising young lawyers, Murphy has been involved in a wide variety of complex and high-profile corporate matters for public and private companies, private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies spanning a range of industries, including infrastructure, energy, technology, financial services, manufacturing, media, consumer & retail and telecommunications. His extensive experience includes domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, spin-offs, corporate restructurings, minority investments, capital markets transactions and corporate governance matters. In addition, Murphy has played significant roles in some of the most high-profile sponsor-led infrastructure M&A transactions in North America over the past decade, including projects involving energy assets, utilities, roads, waste services and other major infrastructure. Notable work highlights include advising Macquarie Infrastructure Partners on the $2.8 billion sale of the Chicago Skyway and $1.68 billion sale of Aquarion Water Company; CVC Capital Partners and CPPIB on the $4.6 billion acquisition of Petco; and Littlejohn & Co. on acquisitions of The Cook & Boardman Group, Strategic Materials, Brown Jordan International, Motion Recruitment Partners and PlayPower.

Powers likewise focuses on public and private M&A transactions, representing clients across multiple industries and geographies in mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, strategic equity investments and corporate control contests. He also works closely with boards of directors and senior management on strategic and corporate governance matters. His prior experience includes prominent roles in major engagements for Nephila Partners in its approximate $1 billion sale to Markel Corporation; Aquiline Capital Partners and Centerbridge Partners in a number of matters; SoftBank Corp. in connection with its acquisition of a 78% stake in Sprint Nextel; and Insight Venture Partners-backed GFI Software in connection with its sale of TeamViewer to Permira.

“Pillsbury’s strong desire to expand and enhance its offering to private equity clients was what initially brought me to the firm,” Amdur added. “With the impressive progress we’ve already made, our commitment is stronger than ever. Jarrod and Ted bring broad experience and exceptional pedigrees to the firm, and I look forward to working closely with them as we bring our Private Equity team to the next level.”

Murphy is the tenth partner to join Pillsbury’s New York office since the start of 2018 and the third since January of this year. Already in 2019, the firm recruited seasoned commercial litigator Ari Berman as well as leading project finance partner Mona Dajani. Those additions follow the 2018 arrivals of a highly regarded five-lawyer leveraged/ acquisition finance group led by partners Michael Michetti, Joel Simon and Joseph Fastiggi; litigator Geoffrey Sant and a five-lawyer team focused on Chinese disputes; respected international arbitration practitioner Robert Sills; a renowned bi-coastal State & Local Tax team co-led by New York-based partner Marc Simonetti; and corporate partner Michael Flynn, who primarily advises early- and growth-stage clients in the technology and life sciences sectors.

“The companies and firms I represent value business-focused legal counsel that can provide meaningful insight into the industries in which they operate and invest, and Pillsbury has that in spades,” said Murphy. “I am thrilled to be a part of such a globally respected firm and a Private Equity practice that continues to go from strength to strength.”

“The positive momentum Pillsbury’s Corporate practice has achieved is definitely exciting,” Powers agreed. “That energy, together with the firm’s highly collaborative approach and sophisticated client base, presents an ideal platform for me to continue to develop my practice.”

Pillsbury’s Private Equity team represents clients in all aspects of fund formation, maintenance and investment activities, ranging from acquisitions and dispositions of portfolio companies, to fund formation and related regulatory compliance.  Clients include U.S. and international fund sponsors, investors, general partners and managers of private equity funds, real estate funds, distressed funds, leveraged buy-out funds, mezzanine debt funds, hedge funds, infrastructure funds, timber funds, venture capital funds, and “funds of funds.” The firm also represents emerging growth and mature companies seeking private investment-related portfolio companies in various corporate, finance, litigation and regulatory matters.