Holland & Knight Tops National Private Equity League Tables as Practice Expands with 22 Notable Hires Across U.S.

NEW YORK (October 26, 2026) – Holland & Knight's investment in its leading private equity platform continues to deepen with the addition of 22 prominent partners thus far in 2026. The strategic expansion of the practice in key markets across the U.S. comes as the Firm is once again ranked among the most active for private equity transactions in 2026 mid-year league tables. The latest rankings, by deal count, include:

PitchBook

• 2nd – U.S. Private Equity
• 3rd – Global Private Equity
• 3rd – Private Equity Buyouts

LSEG

• 1st – Global Private Equity (Advisor to Company) – LBO & Related Rounds
• 4th – Global Private Equity (Advisor to Company) – All Private Equity Stages

To view additional recent mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and private equity rankings, click here.

Recent lateral additions further strengthen Holland & Knight's capabilities in private equity, M&A, fund formation, financial services, executive compensation and benefits, gaming, healthcare transactions and other high-demand areas.

"Holland & Knight has built the nation's premier middle-market transactional practice, supported by deep industry knowledge, broad regulatory support and an innovative culture that helps attract ambitious attorneys," said Aaron Slavens, head of Holland & Knight's Private Equity Practice. "These latest hires reflect the continued strength of Holland & Knight's platform and our commitment to investing in practices and markets where our clients are experiencing substantial growth."

David Powers, who joined the Boston office in April, stated: "Holland & Knight has created an incredibly supportive and entrepreneurial ecosystem around its corporate lawyers. The HK Deal Flow℠ program is an especially valuable tool that helps lawyers deepen relationships and have a more active role in their clients' success. The Firm's approach aligns perfectly with my clients' needs and the continued development of my practice."

Another recent addition in Boston, Monica Kwok, commented: "Great dealmaking comes down to anticipating what's next and getting clients to closing efficiently. Holland & Knight has built a dynamic, high-growth transactional practice with the resources to handle significant deal volume across industries. I'm excited to grow my practice here and help our clients capture opportunity in a fast-paced market."

M&A/Private Equity Focused Partners

• Jessica Berkowitz (Dallas) joined from Kirkland & Ellis and advises private equity sponsors on a broad range of complex transactions. Her practice spans a variety of industries, with particular experience representing clients in technology, infrastructure, energy and software-focused businesses. Ms. Berkowitz also supports the Legal Services Transactions Team by advising on legal services transactions, including law firm management services organization (MSO) structuring, alternative business structures (ABS) and private equity investment into law firms.
• Ann Cox-Johnson (Atlanta) joined from McDermott Will & Schulte and advises public and private companies, boards and private equity-backed companies on complex transactions and related business, governance and strategic matters, with a particular focus on M&A, strategic investments and corporate transformations.
• Emma Dowell (Tysons, Virginia) joined from Hogan Lovells Cadwalader and advises clients on M&A, private equity transactions and corporate governance matters. She has particular experience in government contracting, technology, healthcare services, and sports and entertainment transactions.
• Jake Farquharson (New York) joined from Clifford Chance and focuses on domestic and international capital markets transactions, M&A and other corporate finance and general corporate transactions.
• David Jargiello (San Francisco) joined from VLP Law Group and advises law firms, legal services businesses, private equity investors and legal technology companies on strategic transactions and complex business structures with corporate and professional responsibility considerations. His extensive experience advising on California's legal and professional responsibility rules makes him a key member of the Firm's Legal Services Transactions Team.
• Monica Kwok (Boston) joined from Goodwin Procter and has significant experience representing a premier roster of private equity sponsors, search funds, family offices and other committed capital vehicles in a broad range of complex M&A transactions as well as general corporate advisory and governance matters.
• Jean Lee (Newport Beach) joined from Goodwin Procter and represents public and private companies, as well as private equity funds, in complex domestic and cross-border transactions. She has long-standing relationships with clients across the technology, life sciences and automotive-semiconductor sectors and advises Korean and multinational clients on sophisticated domestic and international transactions.
• Erin O'Gurek (Philadelphia) joined from Morgan Lewis and focuses her practice on domestic and cross-border M&A, joint ventures and growth equity investment transactions. Her transactional experience spans a broad range of industries, including healthcare, technology, energy, financial services, consumer products, sports and entertainment.
• Sarah Palmer (Boston) joined from Mintz and focuses on growth equity, venture financings, licensing/commercial technology transactions, and business strategy and corporate governance matters. Her practice spans multiple industries, including technology, life sciences and financial services.
• David Powers (Boston) joined from Goodwin Procter and counsels private equity sponsors and high-growth companies on M&A, growth equity investments, leveraged buyouts, corporate finance matters and governance issues.
• Aaron Russ (Richmond, Virginia) joined from Morrison Foerster and is a former senior counsel in the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's Division of Investment Management and Division of Examinations. He advises on compliance, regulatory enforcement matters, adviser registration, fund formation and strategic transactions.
• Kristie Shu (Century City) joined from Kirkland & Ellis and focuses her practice on the areas of private equity and M&A. Her experience encompasses a variety of industries, with a particular focus on technology, consumer products, manufacturing and retail. She also advises on legal services transactions, including law firm MSO structuring, ABS and private equity investment into law firms.
• Kelly Waters (Jacksonville) joined from Nelson Mullins and serves as corporate counsel to a variety of clients, including public and private companies, funds, investors and investment advisors, on complex transactions, including M&A, joint ventures, investments, capital raises, divestitures and restructurings. She also advises public companies on securities law reporting requirements.

Regulatory, Finance, Executive Compensation, Tax and Industry Focused Partners

• Katherine Baker (Boston) joined from Nelson Mullins and leads the Firm's National Gaming Team. She focuses her practice on gaming regulatory and litigation matters and helps casino gaming, iGaming, sports betting, fantasy sports, sweepstakes and emerging format operators, vendors and entrepreneurs navigate state, federal, commercial and Tribal gaming issues, including the use of financial technology solutions.
• Sarah Burke (New York) joined from Debevoise & Plimpton and provides comprehensive and strategic counsel on employment, employee benefits and executive compensation matters in connection with complex public and private company transactions.
• Fred David (Boston) joined from Akin Gump and provides comprehensive and strategic counsel on debt financing matters in connection with complex transactions.
• Tom Geraghty (Chicago) joined from Vedder after spending many years at DLA Piper and Kirkland & Ellis. He provides comprehensive tax counsel in connection with complex transactions.
• Joshua Kirschner (Atlanta) joined from Nelson Mullins and advises gaming clients on litigation, regulatory and strategic risk in connection with various gaming operations, business transactions and disputes, and crisis management and response.
• Kristin Ornstein (Dallas) joined from Dykema and advises private equity sponsors, physician practice management companies and healthcare investors on growth strategies, acquisitions and the regulatory complexities unique to the healthcare industry. She has particular experience with dental service and veterinary service organizations, as well as plastic surgery, medical aesthetics, women's health, life sciences and biotechnology enterprises.
• Kimberly Rai (New York) joined from King & Spalding and advises healthcare clients on formation and governance matters, M&A, joint ventures, corporate restructuring and tax-exempt organization issues.
• Jeff Salinger (New York) joined from DLA Piper and provides comprehensive and strategic counsel on environmental matters in connection with complex transactions.
• Shira Selengut (New York) joined from Katten Muchin Rosenman and provides comprehensive and strategic counsel on employment, employee benefits and executive compensation matters in connection with complex transactions.

Recently recognized as the Private Equity Law Firm of the Year by the Global M&A Network and M&A Law Firm of the Year by M&A Advisor, Holland & Knight regularly ranks among the leading M&A and private equity law firms in reputable, benchmarking league tables published by Bloomberg, LSEG, Mergermarket, PitchBook and The Deal. Through the HK Deal Flow℠ program, Holland & Knight facilitates deal leads for clients and prospective clients by matching acquisition or capital raising opportunities with buyers and investors.