Carlyle Group senior counsel Tom Alabaster has joined Latham & Watkins in London, further cementing Latham’s relationship with the private equity powerhouse, according to the firm. While Latham is a go-to firm for Carlyle in the United States, the relationship is not as strong in Europe.
Alabaster joins from Carlyle’s New York office and he has significant experience in fund formation, acquisitions, financings, restructurings, dispositions and deal structuring across jurisdictions. He also has significant expertise in EMEA regulatory and compliance affairs, including working with EU and national regulators, according to a Latham release.
Nick Cline, Latham & Watkins’ London Office Managing Partner, said: “Tom’s unique experience with one of the world’s leading private equity firms will play an important part in the development of our fund formation team in London, as well as our broader private equity practice, where we now have top transactional, funds, bank and bond lawyers.”
“A strong funds platform complements our existing PE practice in London, a key strategic market for the global private equity practice,” added Dan Lennon, Global Chair of Latham & Watkins’ Corporate Department.
Alabaster is Latham’s fifth privaet equity hire in London since May. The firm represents some of the world’s leading private equity houses, including The Carlyle Group, Hellman & Friedman, EQT, Advent International, BC Partners, KKR, Charterhouse, Nordic Capital and PAI Partners, among others. Recent deals include advising Hellman & Friedman on the EUR2bn acquisition of a 70 percent stake in Scout24; The Carlyle Group’s acquisitions of Addison Lee and Chesapeake Packaging; and BC Partners’ acquisition of Allflex Holdings.
