Key Takeaways
- • Winston Taylor, formed through the 2026 transatlantic merger of Winston & Strawn and Taylor Wessing's U.K.-led business, has completed its historic combination to create a unified firm with over 400 years of combined institutional history.
- • The firm operates one of the most active and comprehensive private equity practices in the transatlantic market, with over 200 integrated lawyers across the U.S. and Europe advising on leveraged buyouts, control acquisitions, growth equity, fund formation, secondaries, and liquidity events.
- • Winston Taylor's Fund Formation Practice comprises approximately 40 dedicated lawyers and ranks among the leading practices on both sides of the Atlantic; the firm's Secondaries Practice is positioned as one of the most active in the U.S. market.
- • The combined firm demonstrates sector depth in industrials and manufacturing, healthcare and life sciences, technology, business and professional services, real estate, and energy and infrastructure—with particular expertise supporting middle-market private equity sponsors and institutional investors.
- • Winston Taylor's Management Advisory Practice operates as one of the most active and respected teams on both sides of the Atlantic, advising portfolio companies, founders, and management teams across the full spectrum of sponsor relationships.
Summary
Winston Taylor announced the completion of its historic transatlantic combination between Winston & Strawn, the U.S.-based firm, and Taylor Wessing's U.K.-led business, establishing a single unified firm with combined institutional history spanning over 400 years. The merger positions Winston Taylor as a major player in transatlantic legal services, particularly within the private equity and alternative investment sectors.
The newly combined firm operates one of the most active and comprehensive private equity practices in the transatlantic market. With over 200 integrated lawyers functioning as a single coordinated team across the U.S. and Europe, Winston Taylor advises a broad spectrum of market participants including private equity sponsors, institutional investors, portfolio companies, founders, and management teams. The practice covers the full transaction lifecycle: from leveraged buyouts and control acquisitions through growth equity, minority recapitalizations, portfolio company management, bolt-on acquisitions, GP-led secondaries, and continuation vehicles through to fund formation and exit strategies.
The firm's Fund Formation Practice, staffed by approximately 40 dedicated lawyers, is ranked among the leading practices in both the U.S. and European markets. Its Secondaries Practice represents one of the most active in the U.S. market, reflecting substantial institutional demand for secondary transactions and fund restructuring. The Management Advisory Practice, with lawyers who understand both sponsor and portfolio company perspectives, positions itself as among the most active and respected teams on both sides of the Atlantic.
Sector expertise defines a key competitive strength for Winston Taylor. The combined firm maintains particular depth in industrials and manufacturing, healthcare and life sciences, technology, business and professional services, real estate, and energy and infrastructure. This vertical focus allows the firm to serve middle-market private equity sponsors and institutional investors with specialized industry knowledge and transactional experience. Tier 1 rankings on both sides of the Atlantic reflect the firm's track record of delivering across individual transactions and sustained sponsor relationships.
The newly combined firm operates one of the most active and comprehensive private equity practices in the transatlantic market. With over 200 integrated lawyers functioning as a single coordinated team across the U.S. and Europe, Winston Taylor advises a broad spectrum of market participants including private equity sponsors, institutional investors, portfolio companies, founders, and management teams. The practice covers the full transaction lifecycle: from leveraged buyouts and control acquisitions through growth equity, minority recapitalizations, portfolio company management, bolt-on acquisitions, GP-led secondaries, and continuation vehicles through to fund formation and exit strategies.
The firm's Fund Formation Practice, staffed by approximately 40 dedicated lawyers, is ranked among the leading practices in both the U.S. and European markets. Its Secondaries Practice represents one of the most active in the U.S. market, reflecting substantial institutional demand for secondary transactions and fund restructuring. The Management Advisory Practice, with lawyers who understand both sponsor and portfolio company perspectives, positions itself as among the most active and respected teams on both sides of the Atlantic.
Sector expertise defines a key competitive strength for Winston Taylor. The combined firm maintains particular depth in industrials and manufacturing, healthcare and life sciences, technology, business and professional services, real estate, and energy and infrastructure. This vertical focus allows the firm to serve middle-market private equity sponsors and institutional investors with specialized industry knowledge and transactional experience. Tier 1 rankings on both sides of the Atlantic reflect the firm's track record of delivering across individual transactions and sustained sponsor relationships.
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