Debevoise & Plimpton LLP announces that a team of secondaries lawyers led by partner Krishna Skandakumar and including partner Natalia Kubik are joining the firm in the Investment Management and Private Fund Transactions Groups. Mr. Skandakumar is also named Co-Chair of the Debevoise Private Fund Transactions Group.
Mr. Skandakumar and Ms. Kubik will advise private equity sponsors and investors on complex secondaries transactions and related liquidity solutions, bolstering the firm’s leading position in the secondaries space. They bring to the firm extensive experience in all forms of secondaries, including continuation vehicles, LP portfolio sales, tender offers and recapitalizations. Ms. Kubik also advises fund sponsors across a range of fund raising strategies, including buyout, venture capital and credit.
Presiding Partner Peter Furci said, “For more than 40 years, Debevoise has advised private equity sponsors and investors at every stage of the fund lifecycle, which includes being on the leading edge of the secondaries transactions space. The addition of Krishna and Natalia, who are among the best in the industry in this specialized area, will further strengthen our world-class Private Fund Transactions practice.”
Rebecca Silberstein, Global Chair of the Investment Management Group, said: “Krishna and Natalia are known for providing holistic, market-informed guidance, and for their remarkable track record in helping lead investors and sponsors achieve their goals. We are confident that our clients will benefit from their deep experience.”
Kevin Schmidt, Co-Chair of the Private Equity Group, said: “We have seen strong momentum across our secondaries practice as clients continue to turn to Debevoise’s multidisciplinary teams for these complex transactions. The arrival of Krishna and Natalia will further our growth strategy and help us meet the needs of our clients.”
Mr. Skandakumar said, “Debevoise is known for its preeminent global funds platform and commercial approach, and is the ideal place to grow my practice. I look forward to serving its clients and contributing to the continued growth of its secondaries and private funds capabilities.”
Prior to joining Debevoise, Mr. Skandakumar and Ms. Kubik were partners in the New York office of another international law firm. Mr. Skandakumar earned his degree in Actuarial Studies and Law in 2012 and a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice in 2013, both from The Australian National University, and received his LLM from the University of Melbourne in 2017. Ms. Kubik received her Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA) in Law in 2011 from the University of Cambridge.