Key Takeaways
- • Akin expands U.S. private equity platform with four senior hires, including Gerald Brant (named Head of U.S. Private Equity), Jeffrey Kochian, Brittany Harrison, and Jonathon Hamill, establishing market-leading teams in New York and London focused on control private equity, complex M&A, and capital solutions.
- • Team brings established sponsor relationships and execution depth across the full capital structure, from control equity through hybrid capital and special situations, positioning Akin to serve multi-dimensional private equity strategies.
- • Recent notable representations demonstrate deal capabilities, including Apollo-managed funds' definitive agreements to acquire Emerald Holding, Inc. and Questex, LLC, majority stake acquisition in Prosol Group, and Spire's acquisition of Tennessee Piedmont Natural Gas from Duke Energy.
- • Strategic integration with existing capital solutions platform creates complementary capabilities, enabling integrated advice across private capital deployment lifecycle including capital solutions, restructuring, tax, and fund formation services.
- • Senior talent recognition: Gerald Brant recognized by *The Legal 500* for Private Equity Buyouts; Jeffrey Kochian consistently ranked by *IFLR1000* as Highly Regarded in capital markets and M&A; Jonathon Hamill recognized by *The Legal 500 UK 2026* for high-value private equity transactions (£500 million+).
Summary
Akin Gump announced the arrival of a premier private equity team spanning New York and London, marking a strategic expansion of its control private equity and capital solutions practice. The four-person group includes Gerald Brant, Jeffrey Kochian, and Brittany Harrison returning to the firm, alongside Jonathon Hamill joining from external practice. Brant assumes the role of Head of Akin's U.S. Private Equity Practice, bringing recognition as a first-call advisor for transformative sponsor transactions and board-level situations.
The team collectively delivers comprehensive capabilities across control acquisitions, complex M&A transactions, leveraged buyouts, carve-outs, joint ventures, corporate governance, and hybrid capital market structures. Kochian brings expertise in advising private equity sponsors, public companies, and financial institutions on control acquisitions and shareholder activism matters, while Hamill is recognized as a market leader in hybrid capital markets across Europe. Harrison rounds out the group with experience advising sponsors and portfolio companies on complex control acquisitions and structured investments. The addition directly addresses the evolving complexity of private equity transactions requiring counsel capable of operating across full capital structures.
Recent client representations underscore the team's execution capability at scale. The group has advised Apollo-managed funds on definitive agreements to acquire both Emerald Holding, Inc. and Questex, LLC, as well as Apollo's majority stake acquisition in Prosol Group. Additionally, the team represented Spire in its acquisition of Tennessee Piedmont Natural Gas from Duke Energy, demonstrating experience across diverse sectors and deal structures.
The hiring reflects Akin's strategic positioning within a multi-dimensional private equity market where scale and integrated capabilities drive competitive advantage. According to Abid Qureshi, Co-Chair of Akin, the addition "massively accelerates our private equity growth strategy" and represents "a defining addition for our platform." The team's integration with Akin's existing capital solutions, restructuring, tax, and fund formation practices creates an end-to-end advisory platform capable of serving sponsors across strategies and structures throughout the full lifecycle of private capital deployment.
The team collectively delivers comprehensive capabilities across control acquisitions, complex M&A transactions, leveraged buyouts, carve-outs, joint ventures, corporate governance, and hybrid capital market structures. Kochian brings expertise in advising private equity sponsors, public companies, and financial institutions on control acquisitions and shareholder activism matters, while Hamill is recognized as a market leader in hybrid capital markets across Europe. Harrison rounds out the group with experience advising sponsors and portfolio companies on complex control acquisitions and structured investments. The addition directly addresses the evolving complexity of private equity transactions requiring counsel capable of operating across full capital structures.
Recent client representations underscore the team's execution capability at scale. The group has advised Apollo-managed funds on definitive agreements to acquire both Emerald Holding, Inc. and Questex, LLC, as well as Apollo's majority stake acquisition in Prosol Group. Additionally, the team represented Spire in its acquisition of Tennessee Piedmont Natural Gas from Duke Energy, demonstrating experience across diverse sectors and deal structures.
The hiring reflects Akin's strategic positioning within a multi-dimensional private equity market where scale and integrated capabilities drive competitive advantage. According to Abid Qureshi, Co-Chair of Akin, the addition "massively accelerates our private equity growth strategy" and represents "a defining addition for our platform." The team's integration with Akin's existing capital solutions, restructuring, tax, and fund formation practices creates an end-to-end advisory platform capable of serving sponsors across strategies and structures throughout the full lifecycle of private capital deployment.
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