Will Yates Takes Charge at Travers Smith
People | Nov 12, 2024 | Travers Smith

Travers Smith LLP has appointed Will Yates as the new Head of Private Equity and Financial Sponsors, following Lucie Cawood's retirement from the partnership. Yates, who joined the firm in 2007 and was made partner in 2015, specializes in private equity and M&A transactions. Travers Smith has been involved in significant deals recently, such as advising Phoenix Equity Partners on the sale of Redington and Sixth Street Partners on the acquisition of Cala Homes. The firm aims to continue expanding its Private Equity business under Yates' leadership, focusing on relationship building and leveraging current market dynamics.
Sectors
- Private Equity
- Legal Advisory
- Mergers and Acquisitions
Geography
- United Kingdom – Travers Smith is based in the UK, and many of the transactions mentioned occur within or are related to the UK market.
Industry
- Private Equity – The article focuses on the appointment of a new head of Private Equity at Travers Smith, a law firm specializing in this sector.
- Legal Advisory – Travers Smith is a law firm providing legal advice on transactions involving private equity and M&A.
- Mergers and Acquisitions – The highlighted deals in the article involve significant M&A transactions facilitated by Travers Smith.
Financials
- 1.35 billion – Value of the acquisition of Cala Homes by Sixth Street Partners and Patron Capital.
Participants
| Name | Role | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travers Smith LLP | Legal Advisor | Company | Law firm specializing in private equity and M&A transactions. |
| Will Yates | Head of Private Equity | Person | Newly appointed head of the Private Equity and Financial Sponsors department at Travers Smith. |
| Lucie Cawood | Former Head of Private Equity | Person | Lucie Cawood is retiring from the partnership to focus on her family, previously led the Private Equity department. |
| Phoenix Equity Partners | Client | Company | Private equity firm advised by Travers Smith. |
| Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. | Buyer | Company | Purchased Redington from Phoenix Equity Partners. |
| August Equity Partners | Client | Company | Private equity firm advised by Travers Smith for investment in Fargo Systems. |
| Sixth Street Partners and Patron Capital | Client | Company | Advised on the acquisition of Cala Homes. |
| Legal & General Group plc | Seller | Company | Sold Cala Homes to Sixth Street Partners and Patron Capital. |
| Long Ridge Equity Partners | Client | Company | Invested in QX Global Group with advice from Travers Smith. |
| Inflexion | Client | Company | Invested in GlobalData Plc's Healthcare division, advised by Travers Smith. |
| ETC Group | Client | Company | Acquired by Bitwise Asset Management, advised by Travers Smith. |
| Bitwise Asset Management | Buyer | Company | Acquired ETC Group. |
| Partners Group | Seller | Company | Sold Civica to Blackstone. |
| Blackstone | Buyer | Company | Acquired Civica from Partners Group. |