“These rankings reflect the scale and sophistication of the transactions we are executing across private equity, M&A, and growth capital,” said Chris Sheaffer, global vice-chair of Reed Smith's Private Equity Group. “We are seeing sustained demand from sponsors, companies, investors, and founders, and our global platform enables us to manage complex cross-border deals and fund-level matters alike.”
PitchBook’s annual Global League Tables recognize the most active institutional investors and service providers across private capital markets, based on transaction data spanning geographies, deal types, and industry sectors. The Deal’s Power Rankings are based on reported M&A and private equity transactions.
Private equity
PitchBook’s 2025 Global League Tables ranked Reed Smith among the most active private equity advisors globally and in the United States. The tables recognized the firm across multiple U.S. regional markets, including a top 10 ranking in the Southeast. Reed Smith also earned distinctions in buyouts and achieved a top 10 sector ranking in health care. The firm further earned strong rankings for representing both companies and investors across a broad range of transactions.
In The Deal’s Private Equity Power Rankings, Reed Smith climbed 18 positions in Q4 2025 compared to the same period in 2024 and ranked consistently each quarter in 2025, reflecting sustained strength in its private equity practice.
The firm’s private equity team advises sponsors, institutional investors, and portfolio companies on leveraged buyouts, growth investments, add-ons, recapitalizations, and exits. The team also advises private equity funds on fund formation, structuring, governance, and financing matters.
M&A
Reed Smith also earned rankings in PitchBook’s 2025 Global League Tables for M&A, ranking among the most active advisors in the United States and improving its U.S. standing year over year, with distinctions for representing both companies and investors.
The firm rose 13 positions in Q4 2025 compared to Q4 2024 in The Deal’s M&A Power Rankings, underscoring continued momentum in its M&A practice.
Reed Smith’s M&A practice advises companies, sponsors, boards, and special committees on complex domestic and cross-border transactions, including mergers, joint ventures, carve-outs, spin-offs, leveraged buyouts, take-privates, and tender offers. The team also counsels on public company M&A and corporate governance matters.
Venture capital
For venture capital, Reed Smith was ranked in PitchBook’s 2025 Global League Tables across regional, exit, and sector categories, with consistent placements quarter-to-quarter.
The rise in the rankings can be attributed to the firm’s Emerging Companies & Venture Capital practice’s continued growth and momentum following the opening of the Reed Smith Atlanta office in January 2025.
The practice advises founders, start-ups, venture capital firms, private equity sponsors, and corporate investors on formation, venture financings, fund formation, strategic transactions, and exits, with particular focus on high-growth companies in technology, life sciences, health care, and fintech.
About Reed Smith
Reed Smith is a dynamic international law firm dedicated to helping clients move their businesses forward. With an inclusive culture and innovative mindset, we deliver smarter, more creative legal services that drive better outcomes for our clients. Our deep industry knowledge, long-standing relationships and collaborative structure make us the go-to partner for complex disputes, transactions, and regulatory matters.
