Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP announced that Usman Arain has joined the Firm as a partner in the Private Equity Practice Group. He is based in the Firm’s San Francisco and Palo Alto offices. Usman brings significant experience advising private equity sponsors and corporate clients on complex M&A transactions, with a particular focus on technology-related investments.

Jeffrey Poss, Co-Chair of Willkie’s Private Equity Practice Group, commented: “Usman is a dynamic and highly skilled dealmaker who strengthens our growing platform in California and adds depth to our premier private equity and M&A bench. His experience advising on sophisticated transactions, especially in the software and tech sectors, makes him a terrific fit for our client base.”

Usman’s practice focuses on representing private equity sponsors, portfolio companies, and strategic investors in a wide range of transactions, including leveraged buyouts, growth investments, carve-outs, and other strategic acquisitions and exits. He has led high-profile deals across the software, fintech, education and government technology sectors, regularly advising leading private equity investors and their portfolio companies on multiple transactions. Usman was previously a partner at Paul, Weiss.

Tiffany Lee, Managing Partner of Willkie’s Palo Alto office, commented: “We are delighted to welcome Usman to Willkie as we continue to expand our presence in the Bay Area. His deep experience advising private equity sponsors and growth-focused companies in the tech sector is a strong complement to our platform.”

Alex Cheney, who serves as Co-Managing Partner of the Firm’s San Francisco office with Laura Geist, added: “Usman’s addition reflects Willkie’s continued investment in building a premier global private equity team to serve the evolving needs of our clients in the region and around the world.”

“Willkie offers a world-class and diversified private equity and transactional platform, a collaborative approach to client service, and deep roots in the private equity and technology investment ecosystem,” said Usman Arain. “I’m excited to join the firm’s outstanding team and contribute to its continued success.”

Willkie is one of the industry’s preeminent advisors to private equity funds. We provide a full-service, 360° platform advising on everything from fund structuring and formation, platform acquisitions, tuck-in acquisitions, co-invest structures and joint ventures, to bank credit, direct lending and other debt financings and offerings, IPOs, follow-on offerings, SPACs, PIPEs, other “bet-the-company” and lifecycle events, and ultimate exits. Our team handles transactions worldwide, with attorneys based in 16 key market centers across the United States and Europe.

This news story was originally published on the firm’s website.