On the Move: February 2026 Hires and Promotions

Winston & Strawn: Patrick Valenti

Law firm Winston & Strawn announced this month that Patrick Valenti is its newest addition within the firm’s Chicago office. He joins as a partner in the Transactions Department as well as a member of its Private Investment Funds Practice. Valenti advises private equity sponsors on the formation, fundraising, and operation of private investment funds. He specializes in sponsors raising private equity funds for middle market investments, according to an announcement from the firm.

White & Case: Nicole Daley

Global law firm White & Case LLP welcomed Nicole Daley as its newest partner in the firm’s Boston office, it said this month. Daley joins the firm’s Global Mergers & Acquisitions Practice and Global Life Sciences and Healthcare Industry Group. She specializes in cross-border M&A in the life sciences and healthcare sectors, as well as advises emerging growth companies.

McGuireWoods: Zachary Shub-Essig

Law firm McGuireWoods expanded its private equity team with the hiring of Zachary Shub-Essig in Los Angeles, the firm said this month. Shub-Essig joins as a partner, bringing his experience advising corporate and private equity clients in strategic transactions, including M&A, joint ventures, and equity offerings. He specializes in the technology, healthcare, and industrial sectors. Shub-Essig joins McGuireWoods from Sidley Austin.

Honigman LLP: Alexander Moss and Injune Park

Law firm Honigman LLP announced this month that Alexander Moss and Injune Park joined the firm’s Private Equity Practice within its Corporate Department. The professionals join as partners in Chicago, both coming from Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aaronoff. Honigman noted that Moss and Park mark the seventh and eighth partner additions this year so far.

Moss’s expertise focuses on corporate transactions including acquisitions, proprietary and auction sales, restructurings, control and minority investments, and joint ventures. He primarily represents middle-market private equity funds and their portfolio companies in transactions, as well as independent sponsors and strategic acquirers. Park focuses his practice on private equity transactions, and business M&A and sale transactions. His experience includes representing middle-market private equity funds, independent sponsors and their portfolio companies, and strategic acquirers.

ATL Partners: Josh Raj, Daniel Wu, Lauren DiBartolomeo, and Bob Biesterfeld

Private equity firm ATL Partners, which focuses on commercial aerospace, national security, and transportation and logistics, has promoted three within the firm. Josh Raj and Daniel Wu have both been promoted to vice president from senior associate, while Lauren DiBartolomeo has been promoted to chief operating officer from chief administrative officer. Raj first joined ATL in 2022 from TPG Capital, where he focused on the consumer sector. Wu joined in 2023 from Citi, where he served as an investment banking analyst in its Global Asset Managers Group. DiBartolomeo joined the firm in 2015.

In a separate announcement, ATL announced the hiring of Bob Biesterfeld, who joins as a senior operating executive. The role sees Biesterfeld working with ATL’s investment professionals and portfolio company management teams to support strategic initiatives across ATL’s focus sectors.

Gordon Brothers: Janet Jarrett

Janet Jarrett has been appointed senior advisor at global asset firm Gordon Brothers, where she will also join the Lending Investment Committee. An announcement this month said Jarrett brings her experience in asset-based lending, equipment finance, structured finance, and leveraged transactions to help strengthen Gordon Brothers’ relationships across banking and private credit. She holds more than 25 years of experience in corporate and investment banking, most recently serving as managing director and head of the Asset Finance Group at Truist Securities. There, she led origination, structuring, and portfolio management.

Squire Patton Boggs: Cedric Powell

Global law firm Squire Patton Boggs has announced the hiring of Cedric Powell, who joins its Global Corporate Practice in Washington, D.C. Powell’s practice focuses on private equity and middle-market M&A, advising sponsors and their portfolio companies, C-suite executives, and founders through complex buy- and sell-side transactions. He joins the firm from Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP.

Vista Equity Partners: Suzanne Donohoe

Vista Equity Partners, a technology investor focused on enterprise software, has named Suzanne Donohoe as its chief operating officer and chief commercial officer, a newly created joint role. The position will see Donohoe overseeing global fundraising, capital markets, investor engagement, and marketing strategies. She joins the firm from EQT where she served as chief commercial officer and global head of the External Platform. There, she led capital raising, fund formation, marketing, and corporate development.

Renovus Capital Partners: Niklas Kuhlmann

Investment firm Renovus Capital Partners, based in Philadelphia, announced earlier this month that Niklas Kuhlmann joined the firm as director of Investor Relations and Capital Formation, EMEA. The role will see Kuhlmann lead the firm’s investor relations and capital formation efforts across Europe and Asia to strengthen its relationships with institutional investors. He brings more than a decade of experience to the firm in private market fundraising and institutional sales, having held senior fundraising and business development roles at Selinus Capital, Hamilton Lane, and DWS Group, a press release noted.

Mayfair Capital Partners: Ryan Grand

Mayfair Capital Partners, a division of Oxford Financial Group and an extension of the Mayfair direct investment program, has hired Ryan Grand as its newest managing director and Oxford Investment Fellow. Grand, who joins the firm in its Carmel, Indiana office, brings his experience in private equity and M&A to the firm. He specializes in sourcing, evaluating, and supporting long-term investments. Grand joins Mayfair from Red Arts Capital, where he served as head of business development, leading the firm’s deal origination initiatives.

Middle Market Growth is produced by the Association for Corporate Growth. To learn more about the organization and how to become a member, visit www.acg.org.