Sophie Smith’s practice focuses on the structuring and operation of private investment funds.
She has experience across a broad range of asset strategies and classes, including carried interest, co-investments, and other incentive arrangements. Sophie also advises on legal matters relating to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues, as well as impact and growth investing.
Sophie joined the firm as a counsel in 2022.
Notable Experiences
Prior to joining Cleary, Sophie’s Fund Formation experience included:
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Ares Management on the formation of Ares Capital Europe IV, Ares Capital Europe V and various other fund related matters.
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Montagu Private Equity on the formation of Montagu VI.
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Livingbridge on the formation of Livingbridge 7, Livingbridge Enterprise 3 and various other fund related matters including, the formation of several co-investment vehicles and assistance with carry and co-investment arrangements.
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Pollen Street Capital on the formation of PSC III, PSC IV and various other fund related matters.
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Global Logistics Partners on the formation of several European real estate funds and various other fund related matters.
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Principal Real Estate on the formation of Principal European Core Fund.
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Alpine Grove Partners on the formation of a real estate co-investment platform.
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Pegasus Capital Advisors on the formation of Global Sub-national Climate Fund.
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Vedra Partners Limited on the formation of several impact-focused funds.
Prior to joining Cleary, Sophie’s Secondary/GP-led experience included:
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Quilvest Private Equity on several GP-led liquidity offerings.
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Partners Group on numerous portfolio asset sales.
Prior to joining Cleary, Sophie’s Limited Partner experience included:
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Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, Apollo Global Management, European Investment Fund, Schroder Adveq, Coal Pension and Mineworkers’ Private Equity Trust, British Airways Pension, among others, on various primary investments.
Selected Activities
- Guest Tutor, Oxford Saïd Business School’s Executive MBA (2019, 2021)
Publications
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Private Equity Market Snapshot: Silicon Valley Bank Focus April 2023
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From Industrials to Cleantech Germany Offers Private Equity Opportunities
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Strong Valuations Have Mixed Consequences for Private Equity
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Holding On: The Growing Benefits of Evergreen Fund Structures in Private Capital
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Which ESG Box To Check? Implications of How an Adviser Labels a Fund’s ESG Goals
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Rise of GP-Led Transactions Reshapes Private Equity Secondaries
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Large Target: The Growing Opportunity for Private Equity Investment in Sport
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GP-led Provisions in LPAs: Key Points to Consider for an Evolving Market
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Competition Watchdogs Increase Scrutiny of Private Equity Takeovers
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European Investment Remains Resilient in Challenging Conditions
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Beyond Just “Green”: The EU Taxonomy as a Traffic Light – From Red, to Amber, to Sustainable
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European Taxonomy: A “Green” Future for Nuclear, Gas and Bioenergy?
Events
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September 6, 2022
Solving the Climate Crisis: What Role Can New Nuclear Technologies Play?
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June 17, 2021
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May 25, 2021