Chicago, IL, April 30, 2024 -- Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP announced today that leading private funds lawyer Nathaniel Marrs has joined the Firm as a partner. He is based in Willkie’s Chicago office and is a member of the Asset Management Department. Nat has over 25 years of fund formation experience and is a recognized leader in the market, with a particular focus on private funds investing in the real estate, infrastructure and energy sectors. He is the fifth partner to join Willkie’s Private Funds practice in the past two years, following additions in New York and Los Angeles, and is the fourth partner to join Willkie Chicago since 2023. Now in its fourth year since opening, Willkie Chicago has grown to approximately 90 lawyers. “Since launching our Chicago office four years ago, we have been focused on strategically growing our team and expanding our offerings in the transactional arena,” said Craig C. Martin, Chairman, Midwest. “Nat brings significant experience in the private funds space and will add to the high-level legal counsel we offer to our clients in Chicago and globally. His funds experience complements our growing presence in private equity, M&A and finance in Chicago.” Phil Isom, Chair of Willkie’s Global Private Funds Practice, added: “Nat’s breadth of experience and diverse transactional work that includes a number of private fund managers and investors based in the Chicago market further broadens the reach of our world-class Asset Management Department and Private Funds practice. We are delighted to welcome him to Willkie.” Nat represents a variety of US and international private fund sponsors, investors and other stakeholders across numerous industries on the formation and structuring of funds, management companies, carried interest arrangements and joint ventures. He also represents clients in a variety of corporate transactions, including investment management M&A and GP Stakes transactions. Nat has received numerous accolades for his work, including rankings in Chambers USA and Chambers Global for Private Equity: Fund Formation. He was most recently a partner at DLA Piper and co-head of the Investment Funds Practice. Nat commented: “I’m excited to join Willkie’s dynamic Chicago team and further expand the outstanding transactional capabilities for which Willkie is known worldwide. My fund formation experience aligns well with Willkie’s transactional strengths, and I am eager to continue to grow my practice within a market-leading Asset Management and Investment Funds platform.” Willkie Chicago has grown to more than 90 lawyers since opening its doors in March 2020. Led by Midwest Chair, trial lawyer and trusted advisor, Craig C. Martin, the office has become a destination for board governance counseling, investigations and high-stakes trial work, and has a premier private wealth practice. Willkie Chicago’s growing transactional practice is focused on private equity, mergers and acquisitions, asset management, finance and restructuring. Willkie has one of the most experienced and multidisciplinary Asset Management teams in the market. It is one of only three firms ranked by Chambers USA 2023 for each of Registered Funds; Private Equity: Fund Formation; Hedge Funds; and Investment Funds: Regulatory & Compliance. Our team is also ranked in the 2024 editions of Chambers Global, Chambers Europe and Chambers UK.

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