Mayer Brown continues private capital push with PE partner from Goodwin

Mayer Brown has added another name to its London private equity bench, hiring Goodwin partner Tessa Agar as it continues its private capital-focused expansion.

Agar joins the firm’s corporate and private equity groups, bringing experience advising sponsors and portfolio companies. Her practice spans sectors including technology, software, healthcare, telecoms, financial services and consumer goods.

She began her career at SJ Berwin and later moved to Shearman & Sterling before joining Goodwin in 2017.

Private capital focus

Agar’s arrival follows a string of senior hires this year as Mayer Brown expands its private capital bench in Europe.

In July, it tapped Dechert for private equity partner Mark Evans and leveraged finance duo David Miles and Philip Butler, with London managing partner Dominic Griffiths saying the firm was "doubling down" on its financial services and private capital business and that private capital was "a significant growth area" for the firm.

The firm has also deepened its private equity offering on the continent, recruiting Dr Octavio de Sousa (from Reed Smith) and Nikolai Sokolov (from Hogan Lovells) in Frankfurt earlier this year.

What they said

James West, head of Mayer Brown’s PE practice in London, said: "Tessa’s arrival marks another important milestone in our strategy to grow our mid-market private equity practice in London, which also saw Mark Evans join us in September.

"She has a proven track record working with mid-market sponsors and will help cultivate a number of significant relationships, complementing our current strengths in London and throughout Europe."

London managing partner Griffiths added: "We continue to prioritise the arrival of high-quality laterals in our London office. Tessa will be a great asset to our market-leading private equity practice and her arrival will enhance our global private capital platform while underscoring the firm’s commitment to continued investment in our London offering."