McGuireWoods has hired a former investment manager as its managing director for private equity to lead the development of McGuireWoods Capital Partners, its new strategic private markets-focused platform.
Murielle Dawdy was most recently at 50 South Capital Advisors – the alternative assets unit of Northern Trust – where she was director of private equity investments, overseeing primary investments, secondaries and co-investments in the US and Europe. She is a trusted adviser to family offices and institutional investors, representing investors on the advisory boards of private equity and venture funds.
In her new role, she will be responsible for developing general partner and limited partner relationships and expand engagement with emerging managers and select independent sponsors. She will also lead the firm’s private equity conferences and events and other business development initiatives across the business.
The new platform brings together the firm’s legal expertise, market knowledge and institutional and private capital network to support deal execution. Dawdy joins McGuireWoods in San Francisco.
Jon Finger, a partner and president of McGuireWoods Capital Partners, said: “Murielle’s experience on the allocator side gives our clients firsthand insight into how institutional investors evaluate emerging managers and build investment relationships. She brings a unique perspective that will help us further develop McGuireWoods Capital Partners and strengthen our position as a differentiated resource for the private equity community.”
Dawdy spent just over five years at 50 South Capital, before departing in May. Prior to that she had investment associate spells at investment bank Moelis & Company and family office Builders Vision and just over a year as a strategic partnerships manager at Constellation Brands.
Tom Zahn, a partner and chair of McGuireWoods’ corporate and private equity department, said: “Murielle’s hands-on investment experience adds real value for clients as they raise capital, launch new funds and pursue transactions. Her arrival reflects our continued investment in the people and resources that distinguish McGuireWoods as go-to legal and strategic advisers with an unwavering commitment to relationship building.”
In other recent private equity-related moves, Willkie Farr & Gallagher this week added a five-partner asset management team from Hogan Lovells Cadwalader in London and Washington DC, boosting its private equity and fund transactions coverage.
And last week, Kirkland & Ellis swooped to pick up a 40-strong private equity and debt finance team from Weil Gotshal & Manages, led by Ramona Nee.
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