Ropes adds senior EQT deal lawyer to boost European PE push

Ropes & Gray has hired Paul Dali as a partner in London, bolstering its European private equity and M&A capability with a senior hire straight from the buy side.

Dali joins the US firm from EQT, where he served as managing director and group general counsel for M&A and investments. During his 12 years at the Swedish private equity giant, he led a number of high-profile asset management firm acquisitions, including Baring Private Equity Asia and Exeter Property Group.

From client to adviser

The move is notable for bringing recent, hands-on sponsor experience into Ropes’ private capital practice. EQT has also been an active client of Ropes & Gray - most recently, the firm advised EQT on its $3.7 billion acquisition of Coller Capital, giving Dali direct familiarity with the firm from the client side before making the move.

Ropes chair Julie Jones said: "Paul’s leadership in high-profile private equity and asset management M&A transactions strengthens our proven ability to provide the strategic advice our clients need, both across Europe and globally.

As private capital markets continue to mature and the asset management industry sees increased consolidation, exceptional talent like Paul ensures we have robust, on-the-ground capabilities in our clients’ most important markets."

Fresh talent

Dali’s arrival adds new talent to a Ropes PE bench that has seen a number of senior exits over the past nine months. Among them were a three-lawyer team led by heavyweight Helen Croke that left for White & Case last summer, while partner duo Dan Oates and Angela Becker moved to Akin in November.

At the same time, Ropes has been doubling down on growth in Milan, making the buoyant Italian market a strategic priority. The firm hired dealmaker Aldo Piccarreta from Latham to launch in the financial centre last September and has since continued to add senior talent locally.