McGuireWoods has named Murielle Dawdy as Managing Director, Private Equity, and chosen her to play a leadership role in the development of McGuireWoods Capital Partners, the firm’s strategic platform launched to guide the evolution of the firm’s Emerging Manager Program and Independent Sponsor Initiative, leveraging relationships with emerging managers, independent sponsors, institutional investors and other participants across private capital markets. Dawdy joins the firm in San Francisco.
With a distinguished career in private equity and investment management, Dawdy brings a wealth of experience to the firm. She comes to McGuireWoods from 50 South Capital Advisors, the alternative investments arm of Northern Trust, where she was director of private equity investments. She was a senior investor overseeing primary investments, secondaries and co-investments across a $15 billion global platform. Over her tenure, she directed investments and co-investments throughout the United States and Europe, building the rigorous financial models and investment strategies behind each decision. A trusted adviser to both family offices and major institutional clients, she has also represented investors on the advisory boards of private equity and venture funds.
At McGuireWoods, Dawdy will work closely with McGuireWoods’ private equity attorneys and firm leadership to advance the strategic objectives of McGuireWoods Capital Partners, which brings together the firm’s legal capabilities, market knowledge and vast network of relationships to provide clients with a unique and seamless combination of deal execution and access to a preeminent network of institutional and private capital.
Her responsibilities will include developing and deepening general partner and limited partner relationships, expanding engagement with emerging managers including select independent sponsors, cultivating strategic industry partnerships, helping lead the firm’s signature private equity conferences and event initiatives, and integrating market intelligence, thought leadership and business-development efforts across the firm.
“Murielle’s experience on the allocator side gives our clients firsthand insight into how institutional investors evaluate emerging managers and build investment relationships,” said partner Jon Finger, who leads McGuireWoods’ Private Equity Industry Team and is the President of McGuireWoods Capital Partners. “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.”
Partner Tom Zahn, chair of McGuireWoods’ Corporate & Private Equity Department, added, “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.”
McGuireWoods consistently ranks among the leaders in U.S. and global M&A deals — including private equity transactions — in league tables. The firm represents clients in all types of private equity deals and fund raises, adding value for clients through vital introductions to capital and referrals of tailored investment opportunities developed through its extensive network.
“Having worked with emerging managers from the allocator side, I have seen firsthand the importance of relationships, access and strategic partnerships in building successful private equity firms,” Dawdy said. “McGuireWoods has an exceptional foundation of relationships throughout the private equity community, and I look forward to building on it to connect people, capital and ideas across the industry.”