Adam Orr

Partner

Adam is a partner in the Private Equity & Financial Sponsors Group and Head of the Management Advisory Group.

Adam is a corporate M&A partner, specialising in pan-European and international private equity and M&A transactions. His clients include institutional investors, corporates, alternative asset managers and investee companies, with a focus on advising financial institutions, senior management teams and founders on all aspects of M&A transactions and equity incentivisation terms.

Adam advises on a full range of transactions including leveraged buyouts, consortium deals, bolt-on acquisitions, carve-outs, co-investments, minority deals, recapitalisations, divestments, distressed M&A, public-to-privates, joint ventures, reorganisations and restructurings together with advising on general corporate matters.

Adam also advises the firm's global asset management clients on GP-stake transactions, GP succession planning (including restructuring ownership and governance arrangements) and structured secondary market liquidity solutions (including GP-led and LP-led secondary transactions).

Industry recognition

Adam is recognised as a "Leading Partner" for private equity by The Legal 500 2026 and is "Highly Regarded" for private equity M&A by IFLR1000.
Adam co-authored the fifth edition of "Private Equity: A Transactional Analysis" looking at how the equity aspects of private equity deals work and are documented.
Adam has been recognised as a Private Equity "Rising Star" and one of "the next generation of City private equity talent" by Law.com.

Other roles and background

Adam is a regular speaker in legal education regarding M&A and Private Equity, including speaking at Maastricht University, BPP Law School and on UK Private Capital (formerly the BVCA) training courses.

Adam also sits on the firm's Partnership Board.

Selected sponsor deals

Caledonia Investments plc on its acquisition and subsequent sale of a minority interest in Stonehage Fleming.

Inflexion and 65 Equity Partners on their joint investment in Kee Safety.

Caledonia Investments plc on its acquisition of Direct Tyre Management.

TA Associates on its investment in Fairstone Group, one of the UK's largest chartered financial planning firms.

Inflexion on its carve-out investment in Allen & Overy's legal and compliance data subscription platform, aosphere.

TA Associates and management on their strategic reinvestment in The Access Group alongside existing co-investor Hg.

Inflexion on its takeover of global law firm and alternative legal services provider DWF.

Ancala Partners on its acquisition of aerial emergency services businesses from Babcock International Group in Italy, Spain, Portugal, Norway, Sweden and Finland.

TA Associates on the sale of a majority stake in ITRS Group to Montagu Private Equity.

Macquarie Principal Capital Finance on its takeover of PTSG.

TA Associates on its acquisition of a significant minority interest in IFS alongside EQT.

Caledonia Investments plc on its acquisition of Cooke Optics.

TA Associates on its acquisition of the single strategy asset management business from Old Mutual Wealth (now Merian Global Investors).

Selected management deals

The senior management team of Pure Cremation on the sale of a minority interest by management and Epiris to Centerbridge Partners.

The senior management team of Heywood on investment by Keylane.

The senior management team of David Lloyd Leisure on investment by newly established continuation vehicle TDR Capital Titan and previously on the initial investment by TDR Capital.

The founders and senior management team of International Schools Partnership on the acquisition of a 20% stake by CVC Strategic Opportunities as well as previously on the acquisition of a 25% stake by OMERS Private Equity.

The senior management team of Lomond on investment by funds managed by ICG.

The senior management team of Partner in Pet Food on the sale of a majority stake by Cinven to funds managed by CVC.

The management team of V.Group on its sale to a consortium led by STAR Capital from Advent International.

The management team of Civica on the sale of Civica by Partners Group to Blackstone.

The management team of Azets Group on investment by PAI Partners.

The management team of Inmarsat on its acquisition by Viasat.

The management team of Acuity Knowledge Partners on the sale of a majority stake of Acuity Knowledge Partners to Permira, from Equistone Partners Europe.

The management team of Premium Credit on its sale by Cinven to Towerbrook Capital Partners and previously on its initial acquisition by Cinven.

The management team of Elysium Healthcare on its acquisition by Ramsay Health Care.

The management team of RAC on its partnership with Silver Lake, joining existing owners GIC and CVC.

I first worked with Adam in 2014 and I was delighted to work with him again on our most recent transaction – his guidance was again first class. His insight to the market on large-cap cross jurisdictional investments was invaluable. Throughout the negotiation process he was calm and supportive at all times and highly professional, exactly what we needed and very much appreciated.

Arguably the best team for private equity management advice. Adam Orr leads a great team which has the experience to know what is market standard and how the market is moving to ensure management teams, and their interests are protected.

This is the second transaction through which we were supported by Adam and his team, and I cannot thank them enough for their support, diligence and, at times, humour in taking us through what was a complex process.