Key facts
- Latham & Watkins has hired Samantha McGonigle as a partner in its London M&A and Private Equity Practice.
- McGonigle joins from Hg, where she was Partner and General Counsel.
- She has experience advising on leveraged buyouts, M&A, and other complex transactions, particularly in technology and software.
- Latham & Watkins is a leading firm in M&A and PE deals, ranking #1 globally by deal count in the first half of 2026.
- McGonigle previously co-founded a European growth equity firm and held senior roles in private practice and the investment industry.
Latham & Watkins has announced the addition of Samantha McGonigle as a partner to its London office, bolstering its M&A and Private Equity Practice. McGonigle joins from Hg, a prominent investor in technology and services businesses, where she held the position of Partner and General Counsel. In her new role, she will advise private equity sponsors and investors on a variety of complex transactions, including leveraged buyouts, mergers and acquisitions, minority investments, joint ventures, and strategic investments and dispositions, with a particular focus on technology-driven and software-related deals.
Ed Barnett, Managing Partner of Latham’s London Office, expressed enthusiasm for McGonigle's arrival, citing her expertise, sector knowledge, and industry relationships as significant assets for clients and the firm's growing private equity platform. He described her as a respected dealmaker with deep experience in large and mid-cap deals.
Alex Kelly, Global Co-Chair of Latham’s M&A and Private Equity Practice Group, emphasized McGonigle's unique commercial perspective, gained from her dual experience as in-house counsel and a partner in private practice. He noted that the firm has collaborated with McGonigle during her tenure at Hg and looks forward to continuing that relationship.
Tom Evans, Global Vice Chair of Latham’s Corporate Department, welcomed McGonigle, highlighting her familiarity with the firm and her potential to play a major role in the practice's future growth globally. McGonigle stated her excitement about joining Latham's platform and assisting clients with their strategic objectives, acknowledging the importance of advisers understanding commercial goals and the evolving landscape of AI adoption.
Latham & Watkins consistently ranks as a leading firm in M&A and private equity deals, holding the #1 position globally by deal count in the first half of 2026, according to Bloomberg.