Key Takeaways
- • Four-Partner Team Joins Akin: Gerald Brant, Jeffrey Kochian, Brittany Harrison, and Jonathon Hamill have joined Akin Gump as partners in its private equity practice, with Brant named head of U.S. private equity operations.
- • Strategic Returnees and New Talent: Brant, Kochian, and Harrison are returning to Akin, while Hamill joins as a new addition from Sidley Austin (where he has been since 2021), based in London.
- • Comprehensive PE Capability: The team delivers depth across control private equity, complex M&A, carve-outs, platform acquisitions, and capital solutions transactions, positioning Akin to address sponsor relationships and high-stakes transactional requirements.
- • Market Recognition: Brant is recognized by The Legal 500 for private equity buyouts; Kochian is ranked highly by IFLR1000 in capital markets, private equity, and M&A; Hamill is recognized by The Legal 500 UK 2026 for high-value PE transactions (£500 million+); Harrison advises leading sponsors and public companies on complex acquisitions and structured investments.
- • Global Footprint Expansion: The addition establishes senior advisory capability across New York and London offices, strengthening Akin's ability to serve multinational private equity clients on transformative sponsor transactions.
Summary
Akin Gump announced the arrival of a premier private equity team spanning New York and London, significantly expanding its control private equity and complex M&A platform. The group comprises three returning partners—Gerald Brant, Jeffrey Kochian, and Brittany Harrison—alongside new London-based partner Jonathon Hamill, who joins from Sidley Austin where he had been based since 2021.
Gerald Brant has assumed the role of head of Akin's U.S. private equity practice. Described as a globally recognized advisor, Brant specializes in advising leading private equity firms on platform acquisitions, carve-outs, divestitures, and high-stakes transactional governance matters. He is widely regarded as a first-call advisor for transformative sponsor transactions and board-level situations, with recognition from The Legal 500 in the private equity buyouts category.
Jeffrey Kochian brings extensive experience advising private equity sponsors, public companies, and financial institutions on control acquisitions, complex M&A, joint ventures, corporate governance, capital markets, and shareholder activism and defense. He has been consistently ranked as Highly Regarded by IFLR1000 across capital markets, private equity, and M&A disciplines. Brittany Harrison advises leading private equity sponsors, their portfolio companies, and public companies on complex control acquisitions, M&A transactions, and structured investments.
Jonathon Hamill is recognized as a market leader in hybrid capital markets across Europe, with specialized expertise in leveraged buyouts and carve-outs. The Legal 500 UK 2026 recognizes him for private equity transactions involving high-value deals exceeding £500 million.
The team's strategic mandate focuses on delivering critical mass at the intersection of control private equity, complex M&A, and capital solutions, enabling Akin to offer senior sponsor relationships and execution capability across the full spectrum of sponsor-led transactions. This addition reflects the firm's broader effort to strengthen its global private equity advisory bench and deepen relationships with institutional sponsors.
Gerald Brant has assumed the role of head of Akin's U.S. private equity practice. Described as a globally recognized advisor, Brant specializes in advising leading private equity firms on platform acquisitions, carve-outs, divestitures, and high-stakes transactional governance matters. He is widely regarded as a first-call advisor for transformative sponsor transactions and board-level situations, with recognition from The Legal 500 in the private equity buyouts category.
Jeffrey Kochian brings extensive experience advising private equity sponsors, public companies, and financial institutions on control acquisitions, complex M&A, joint ventures, corporate governance, capital markets, and shareholder activism and defense. He has been consistently ranked as Highly Regarded by IFLR1000 across capital markets, private equity, and M&A disciplines. Brittany Harrison advises leading private equity sponsors, their portfolio companies, and public companies on complex control acquisitions, M&A transactions, and structured investments.
Jonathon Hamill is recognized as a market leader in hybrid capital markets across Europe, with specialized expertise in leveraged buyouts and carve-outs. The Legal 500 UK 2026 recognizes him for private equity transactions involving high-value deals exceeding £500 million.
The team's strategic mandate focuses on delivering critical mass at the intersection of control private equity, complex M&A, and capital solutions, enabling Akin to offer senior sponsor relationships and execution capability across the full spectrum of sponsor-led transactions. This addition reflects the firm's broader effort to strengthen its global private equity advisory bench and deepen relationships with institutional sponsors.
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