Jeffrey R. Poss
Partner, Private Equity
Jeffrey R. Poss is a partner in the Corporate & Financial Services Department, Co-Chair of the Private Equity Practice Group and a member of the firm's Executive Committee. He focuses on private equity and venture capital transactions, and mergers and acquisitions involving public and private companies. His vast experience spans multiple industries, with a particular focus on the financial services, Fintech, insurance and technology/media/telecom sectors. Jeff regularly advises senior management and boards of directors of both public and privately held entities on strategic and corporate governance matters. He practiced in the firm's London office for several years handling cross-border transactions.
Jeff is often recognized as one of the leading private equity and M&A practitioners in the United States. He is consistently ranked by Chambers USA and listed as a Leading Lawyer in The Legal 500, and he has also been recognized by Chambers Global and Chambers FinTech. Additionally, he was named "Private Equity Adviser of the Year" at The Deal Middle Market Awards in 2020, and shortlisted for the same honor at The Deal Awards US in 2019 and 2021.
Private Equity and Venture Capital
Jeff represents private equity and venture capital investors in connection with all stages of investments and types of financings, from angel rounds to growth equity to LBOs and MBOs, covering a wide range of industries and geographies. He also represents issuers in connection with equity, debt and hybrid financings throughout their life-cycle. Jeff regularly represents portfolio companies of his sponsor clients in connection with financings, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and general corporate advice.
M&A
Jeff represents acquirers, targets and sponsors in public and private merger and acquisitions, joint ventures, strategic equity investments, spin-offs and corporate control contests across multiple industries and geographies.
Experience
- Chambers USA (2018-2024) – recognized among the leading individuals practicing in the area of Private Equity: Buyouts in the United States/New York
- Chambers FinTech (2020, 2021) – recognized as a notable practitioner in the FinTech space
- The Deal Awards – named "Private Equity Adviser of the Year” at The Deal Middle Market Awards in 2020, and shortlisted for the same honor at The Deal Awards US in 2019 and 2021
- The Legal 500 US (2020-2024) – recognized as a leading practitioner in the area of Private Equity Buyouts
- IFLR1000 (2017-2024) – listed as “highly regarded” for M&A and Private Equity
- IFLR Americas Awards (2017) – recognized among the team honored for the “M&A Deal of the Year” for his representation of AssetMark in its acquisition by China-based Huatai Securities
- Law360 Private Equity Editorial Advisory Board – selected to serve as member (2017-2019)
Jeff was a longtime member of the advisory board of the David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center, and serves as the relationship partner for Willkie's pro bono representation of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.
Jeff's recent representative transactions include advising:
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Aquiline on the close of its Continuation Fund, which raised approximately $1.1 billion of capital commitments
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Accuserve Solutions, a portfolio company of Aquiline Capital Partners, on a majority investment from Flexpoint Ford
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Cerity Partners, a leading independent wealth management firm and portfolio company of Genstar Capital, in its combination with Agility, a provider of outsourced chief investment officer solutions
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Cetera Financial Group and Genstar Capital on Cetera’s equity reinvestment from Genstar
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Cetera Financial Group, a portfolio company of Genstar Capital, in its $1.2 billion take-private acquisition of Avantax, Inc.
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Numerix, a portfolio company of Genstar Capital, in its acquisition of PolyPaths, a provider of analytics and risk management solutions for financial institutions
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Aquiline Capital Partners and portfolio company Fullsteam, a leading payments and software company, in a significant investment from Aquiline and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority
- Numerix, a portfolio company of Genstar Capital, in its acquisition of FINCAD, a leader in pricing and risk analytics of financial derivatives and fixed income products
- Cetera Financial Group, a portfolio company of Genstar Capital, in its acquisition of the retail wealth business of Securian Financial Group
- Genstar Capital in its acquisition of Numerix, the leader in capital markets risk management technology
- Genstar Capital in its investment in Cerity Partners, a leading independent wealth management firm
- Orion Advisor Solutions in its acquisition of TownSquare Capital, a boutique, full-service investment and trading platform
- Orion Advisor Solutions in its acquisition of Redtail Technology, a leading web-based CRM software firm serving the wealth management industry
- Genstar Capital in its acquisition of ACA Group
- Aquiline Capital Partners in its majority investment in Distinguished Programs, a national insurance program manager
- Gemini13, a media services and audio content production company, in its acquisitions of Infinite Agency and Phantom Producer, and in the formation of a joint venture with Diversion Media & Communications for the production of podcasts
- Investment management company Brinker Capital in its merger with Orion Advisor Solutions
- Apex Fund Services in the equity investments by each of TA Associates, Carlyle and Mubadala Investment Company in Apex, a Genstar portfolio company
- Cetera Financial Group, a Genstar portfolio company, in its acquisition of the independent financial planning channel of Voya Financial Advisors
- Digital wealth management company Personal Capital in its acquisition by Empower Retirement, one of the country's largest retirement services providers
- Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS), a Genstar portfolio company, in its sale to Deutsche Börse
- Sphera, a leading provider of ESG software, data, and consulting services and portfolio company of Genstar Capital, in its sale to Blackstone
- Foreside Financial Group, a portfolio company of Genstar Capital, in its acquisitions of ACA Group and Alaric Compliance Services
- Genstar Capital in its acquisition of Foreside Financial Group
- Aquiline Capital Partners in its acquisition of Xact Data Discovery, and the subsequent merger of eDiscovery companies Xact and Consilio
- Aquiline Capital Partners in its acquisition of SurePoint Technologies, a leading cloud provider of practice management solutions to law firms
- Aquiline Capital Partners in its acquisition of SageView Advisory Group, a registered investment advisory firm
- Simplicity Group in its sale by Aquiline Capital Partners and management to Lee Equity Partners
- Aquiline Capital Partners in the acquisitions of CodeBlue and MADSKY, two industry leaders in the management of interior and exterior damage assessment and repair for insurance property claims, and subsequent combination to create Accuserve
- Genstar Capital and Mercer Advisors in connection with Mercer's recapitalization and the acquisition of an equity stake in Mercer by Oak Hill Capital, and Mercer in several acquisitions including Kanaly Trust
- OEConnection, a Genstar portfolio company, in its acquisition of Overall Parts Solutions (OPS)
- Ascensus in its acquisition by Aquiline Capital Partners and Genstar Capital from J.C. Flowers, and in its subsequent sale to Stone Point Capital and GIC
- Apex Fund Services, a Genstar Capital portfolio company, in:
- the acquisition of BRL Trust Investimentos, a leading independent fund administrator in Brazil
- the acquisition and financing of Tzur Capital Management Ltd.
- the acquisition of Banco Modal's Alternative Fund Administration business in Brazil (MAF)
- the acquisition of the corporate and private clients business of Link Asset Services, a division of the Australian-listed Link Group
- Virtus Partners, a credit-based alternatives fund solutions provider and portfolio company of Aquiline Capital Partners, in connection with its sale to FIS
Credentials
Education
Boston University School of Law, J.D., 1991 University of Pennsylvania, B.A., 1988