Carolyn E. Taylor

Carolyn Taylor is a partner in the firm's New York office who focuses on private equity secondary transactions and management equity arrangements for private equity investment transactions.  Ms. Taylor's practice includes advising private fund clients on a global basis in the acquisition of interests in private equity funds and direct investments in companies.  Ms. Taylor also has extensive experience representing private equity funds in structuring and implementing management equity arrangements for their portfolio companies as well as representing executives and management teams on compensation and equity arrangements for private equity and corporate employment.  She also represents both companies and executives in the preparation and negotiation of executive contracts including employment and separation agreements.

Ms. Taylor also has significant experience representing clients in transactional matters, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and investment transactions, as well as advising clients on general corporate matters.

Representative Matters

Private Equity Secondary Transactions

• Representation of Pantheon Ventures, a fund of funds, in numerous private equity fund secondary transactions.
• Representation of Neuberger Berman in connection with its private equity secondary market activities.
• Representation of a separate account partnership established for a non-US investment fund in the acquisition of private equity fund interests from an institutional investor.

• Representation of Charlesbank Capital Partners, a private equity sponsor, in the management arrangements in connection with numerous private equity fund investments and dispositions.
• Representation of Snow Phipps Group, a private equity firm, in the management arrangements in connection with its acquisition and ownership of numerous portfolio companies.
• Representation of numerous private equity and hedge funds professionals in connection with the negotiation of their equity, employment and severance arrangements with the fund sponsors.

Previous Experience

• Longitude, Inc., Executive Vice President and General Counsel (2000-2003) - Ms. Taylor spent three years as an executive vice president and general counsel for a financial services technology company.

Honors and Rankings

• Legal 500 US, Investment Fund Formation and Management - Private Equity Funds (2013)

Publications and Speeches

• "Let’s Talk About Terms," Dow Jones Private Equity Analyst Conference (2012)
• "Dodd-Frank Act: Advisers to Private Investment Funds," Covington Advisory (7/21/2010), Co-Author
• "Update on Private Fund Adviser Registration," Covington E-Alert (10/29/2009), Co-Author