Drawing on the perspectives of 72 lawyers across 11 practices, the series delivers actionable guidance for sponsors, investors, portfolio companies, lenders, and advisors facing heightened regulatory scrutiny, tighter financing conditions, evolving operational pressures, and more sophisticated deal structures.

The series explores the real-world issues shaping today’s private equity landscape, from acquisitions and exits to restructuring, disputes, compliance, financing, and value creation strategies, with a focus on helping clients anticipate challenges, move faster, and make more confident business decisions.

“Private equity firms and their portfolio companies are operating in an environment where every decision carries greater complexity and scrutiny,” said Chris Sheaffer, global vice-chair of Reed Smith’s Private Equity Group. “Clients are looking for commercially focused guidance that connects legal considerations with business outcomes. This series was built to provide practical insights that help deal teams identify opportunities, manage risk, and execute with greater confidence throughout the investment lifecycle.”

By bringing together perspectives from across multiple disciplines and jurisdictions, Private Equity Behind the Scenes reflects Reed Smith’s deep involvement in the private equity market and its longstanding work advising clients on high-value, business-critical matters around the world.

Topics include:

• Dealmaking & Due Diligence: executive compensation diligence, successor liability, talent risk, why every deal team needs a litigator, post-closing purchase price adjustments, the UK national security screening regime, and post-acquisition disputes at the intersection of PPAs and RWI
• Regulatory & Enforcement: antitrust enforcement, outbound investment regulations, SEC priorities for 2026, non-compete venue and choice-of-law considerations, and joint employer liability
• Governance & Portfolio Risk: fiduciary duties for controlling stockholders, trade secret protections, ESG due diligence, private credit as systemic risk, alternative exit scenarios and LP liquidity, end-of-life solutions for PE funds, restructuring as credit terms tighten, and AI integration as an operational edge
• PE in Transportation, Law & Real Assets: shipping vessel acquisitions and newbuild versus secondhand considerations, contractual protections for PE lenders in shipping, aircraft returns, PE investment into law firms, and UK real estate regulatory outlook
• PE in Entertainment, Sports, Retail & Health Care: film and TV rights structures, music catalogs as an alternative asset, the False Claims Act's reach for PE firms, and retail and restaurant M&A pitfalls

The series can be found at reedsmith.com. Interviews with Reed Smith’s Private Equity lawyers can be booked through the firm’s media relations department.