Deals·October 19, 2026 at 12:00 AM EDT·3 sources
Private equity group Charlesbank closes one of the biggest law firm deals
stake, log scale$700M
$100M$1B$10B$100B
What happened
- Charlesbank Capital Partners invested in the non-legal operations of Wood Smith Henning & Berman through a new management services organization.
- The transaction reportedly values the business at approximately $700m.
- WSHB represents insurers and corporate clients through more than 550 attorneys across 43 offices in 23 states.
Reported transaction value
approximately $700m
Attorneys
more than 550
Offices
43
States
23
Why it matters
The transaction could signal broader private-equity interest in US liability-defense law firms and their back-office operations, relevant to sponsors, corporate-finance advisers and private-credit investors.
Deal terms
stake
Charlesbank Capital Partners → Wood Smith Henning & Berman
Value
$700M
Investors
Charlesbank Capital Partners
Read more on YouBank
The Newsroom, ranked for your desk
About ninety free sources every ten minutes, one story per event, read for you: bankers, investors, operators and students each get their own desk. Free to start.
Timeline
- First reported by Financial TimesOct 19Private equity group Charlesbank closes one of the biggest law firm deals
- PE Hub reportsOct 19Charlesbank backs law firm Wood Smith Henning & Berman via new MSO
- Private Equity Wire reportsOct 20Charlesbank invests in US law firm’s back-office operations in $700m deal
Who is involved
stake inPrivate equity group Charlesbank closes one of the biggest la…Wood Smith Henning & BermantargetCharlesbank Capital Partnersbuyer
CompanyThe deal
Sources (3)
- Financial TimesOct 19Private equity group Charlesbank closes one of the biggest law firm deals
- PE HubOct 19Charlesbank backs law firm Wood Smith Henning & Berman via new MSO
- Private Equity WireOct 20Charlesbank invests in US law firm’s back-office operations in $700m deal
Read more on YouBank
The Newsroom, ranked for your desk
About ninety free sources every ten minutes, one story per event, read for you: bankers, investors, operators and students each get their own desk. Free to start.
- Why it matters to youEvery story matched to your watchlist, your contacts and your pipeline.
- Follow developing storiesAn alert, and a push, the moment a story you follow moves.
- Your briefing, read aloudA few minutes each morning with a chapter per story.
- Brief modeSwipe through the day, a 20-second card each.