Sam Whittaker advises clients on a range of complex corporate matters, particularly private equity transactions. Mr. Whittaker’s practice includes mergers and acquisitions, divestments, co-investments, joint ventures, management equity arrangements and a variety of portfolio transactions. He regularly advises prominent global private equity firms, alternative asset managers and investment firms.

Mr. Whittaker has been recognized as a Private Equity Rising Star 2022 by Law.com International, highlighting Europe’s best up-and-coming PE lawyers. He is listed in The Legal 500 UK, 2023 for M&A - upper mid-market and premium deals and private equity transactions - high-value deals. Clients describe him as “super bright and hardworking” and “a pleasure to work with.”

  • Experience includes:
    • Leif Höegh & Co. Ltd. and funds managed by Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners through a 50/50 joint venture vehicle to acquire the shares in Höegh LNG Holdings Ltd.
    • L Catterton on its agreement to acquire a majority stake in BIRKENSTOCK Group.
    • Blackstone on various transactions, including the: recommended £4.77 billion cash offer for Merlin Entertainments, a global leader in location-based, family entertainment; acquisition of the business and assets of Murka, a developer and promoter of social casino gaming applications for mobile devices and social media; and acquisition of Aon plc's technology-enabled benefits and HR platform for approximately US$4.8 billion.
    • GIC on various transactions.
    • BC Partners on its acquisition of a majority stake in United Group, a leading media and communication services provider across Southeast Europe, from KKR.
    • Triton Partners on various transactions, including the acquisition of European travel operators, Sunweb and Corendon Group.
    • EQT on various transactions, including the combination of Independent Vetcare (IVC) and Evidensia to create Europe’s largest veterinary care group and the sale of Automic Software to CA Technologies.
    • 3i Group on various transactions, including its acquisition of Q Holding Company, the medical devices group.
    • Sycamore Partners on various transactions.
    • Boehringer Ingelheim Corporation on its sale of Roxanne Laboratories Inc. to Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC for approximately US$2.65 billion.
    • Oaktree Capital Management on various transactions, including: the sale of The Student Housing Company group in the UK to a consortium of GIC and GSA; the sale of its Spanish student housing business to GSA; and its investment in Ainscough Cranes.
    • Gazit-Globe Limited on various transactions, including its recommended cash offer for Atrium European Real Estate Limited, valuing Atrium at €1.4bn.
    • Node, the co-living group, in respect of its joint venture with Intriva Capital.
    • Travelport on various transactions, including its acquisition by Siris Capital and Evergreen Coast Capital.
    • Murray Energy Holdings Co. in connection with the corporate and M&A aspects of their Chapter 11 cases in the United States Bankruptcy Court.
    • Apax Partners on its acquisition of 3M’s electronic monitoring business.
    • TowerBrook on the sale of a minority stake in the TowerBrook group to Wafra.
    • Sterigenics International on its acquisition of REVISS Services.
    • Genpact on the formation of its KYC services joint venture with Markit.
    • Victory Park Capital on the £200 million initial public offering of VPC Specialty Lending Investments PLC on the London Stock Exchange.

    Includes matters handled at Dechert or prior to joining the firm.