Paralegal

McGuireWoods launches deal-by-deal podcast on private equity deal-making. McGuireWoods, a major law firm, has launched "Deal-by-Deal," a podcast series exploring private equity deal-making in the middle market and lower-middle market, with emphasis on the independent sponsor model. The show features interviews with investors, operators, and transaction professionals discussing acquisition strategies, financing, governance and market trends. The podcast, hosted primarily by McGuireWoods partner Greg Hawver, has released at least 39 episodes covering topics ranging from debt financing and executive compensation to technology transformation and real estate optimization in M&A transactions. Episodes are available on YouTube, iTunes and Spotify, making the content accessible to private equity professionals, independent sponsors and deal-focused investors seeking practical guidance on structuring and executing acquisitions. Recent episodes feature executives and specialists discussing real-world deal scenarios and market conditions. In one episode, Clint Simkins of DPO&Co traced his firm's evolution from strategy consulting into a fully integrated platform spanning consulting, transaction advisory services and principal investing, including a $100 million fund raise. Another episode featured e2E founder and CEO Nancy McCullough discussing post-acquisition integration during the critical first 100 days after closing. "It was fun going through due diligence, having done that many times for other companies," said McCullough, describing her experience as an entrepreneur navigating the acquisition process from the seller's perspective. The podcast addresses core concerns for independent sponsors and private equity investors. Parm Atwal, managing director at Configure Partners, a credit-oriented investment bank, emphasized timing in debt financing discussions, noting "earlier is better" when engaging advisors. Rafael Telahun, managing director of the technology sector at Altaline Capital Management, explained how service companies can transform into technology-enabled assets to capture multiple re-ratings. He highlighted vertical-focused businesses transitioning from transactional to subscription models as ideal transformation targets. For podcast and audio industry professionals, the series demonstrates sustained demand for specialized business-focused audio content targeting niche professional audiences. The show's multi-platform distribution strategy across Spotify, iTunes and YouTube reflects evolving consumption patterns among busy executives who consume content during commutes and work. The emphasis on long-form interviews with substantive discussion of complex financial and legal topics contrasts with broader entertainment podcasting, indicating robust market appetite for professional development and business intelligence audio content. The independent sponsor model and middle-market private equity sector have experienced significant growth in recent years. McGuireWoods noted in one episode that independent sponsors have become increasingly sophisticated in their deal-making approach. The firm conducted a 2024 Independent Sponsor Deal Survey compiling data from more than 300 transactions. "One change I've observed in independent sponsor transactions is that the level of professionalism and the backgrounds and credentials of the parties have become better and better every year," said Jeff Brooker, a McGuireWoods partner, adding that this trend is "resulting in more transaction volume, more sophisticated transactions, and, frankly, larger transactions as well." Economic uncertainty has shaped deal-making discussions on the show. In one episode focused on deal-hunting amid mixed economic signals, Matt Wolf of RSM provided an economic outlook citing a 4.2 percent unemployment rate, 2.5 percent inflation and 2.5 percent GDP growth as baseline forecasts. However, Wolf noted that uncertainty surrounding tariffs was creating "paralysis" among operators and some investors, complicating investment decision-making in the current environment. The podcast represents a strategic content marketing initiative for McGuireWoods, positioning the firm as a thought leader in independent sponsor and middle-market private equity transactions. By featuring clients, capital partners and transaction specialists, the firm builds relationships within its target market while providing valuable educational content. The series demonstrates how professional services firms are using podcasting to engage with high-value audiences in competitive sectors. For content creators and audio production professionals, the show illustrates the viability of B2B podcasting targeting affluent, deal-focused professionals willing to invest time in detailed explorations of complex transactions and market dynamics.

Former McGuireWoods Deputy Managing Partner Todd Steggerda sworn in as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva. McGuireWoods congratulates former Deputy Managing Partner Todd Steggerda, who was sworn in on Monday as the new U.S. Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva. Ambassador Steggerda held key firm leadership roles since joining McGuireWoods in 2015. Leveraging his experience as a United States Naval Academy graduate and former aircraft carrier-based strike-fighter pilot, he was the founding leader of the firm's Defense, National Security and Government Contracting Industry Team and its growing government contracts practice. In 2018, he became the chair of the Government Investigations & White Collar Litigation Department and, during his four-year tenure, spearheaded the significant expansion of the practice, especially in Washington, and was instrumental in enhancing its reputation as a leading white collar litigation firm. In 2020, Law360 selected McGuireWoods as a White Collar Practice Group of the Year in recognition of its prominent work. Ambassador Steggerda became deputy managing partner for litigation in December 2022 as the firm continued earning accolades for excellence across litigation practices. He later assumed the role of deputy managing partner for strategic development, overseeing the strategic reorganization of the firm's practice groups and industry teams. "Ambassador Steggerda was an extraordinary leader and trusted colleague whose efforts have strengthened McGuireWoods immeasurably," said McGuireWoods Managing Partner J. Tracy Walker IV. "While we will miss him, we are immensely proud that he has been called to serve our nation in this distinguished role. McGuireWoods LLP is a leading international law firm with 900+ lawyers in 21 offices worldwide. It continuously ranks among the top firms in Financial Times' prestigious North America Innovative Lawyers report. The firm has been recognized 20 times on BTI Consulting's Client Service A-Team - elite firms singled out for client service excellence based on unprompted feedback from clients in major companies. Its full-service public affairs arm, McGuireWoods Consulting LLC, offers infrastructure and economic development, strategic communications and grassroots advocacy, and government relations solutions. For more information, visit www.mcguirewoods.com. LawFuell's editors select and publish the most relevant and up-to-date information about lawyers and law firms for LawFuel on a daily basis from the most reputable and independent sources available.