Willkie Adds Trio of Private Equity Transactional Partners to Dallas Practice

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP Bolsters Dallas Office with Three Top-Tier Private Equity Partners

Dallas, TX – July 15, 2025 – Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP has substantially enhanced its Corporate & Financial Services Department with the strategic addition of three highly respected private equity transactional lawyers: Jesse Betts, Jessica Hammons, and Nathan Meredith.All three join as partners, bringing a wealth of expertise and a robust track record to Willkie’s burgeoning Dallas office.

This move underscores Willkie’s commitment to expanding its premier transactional capabilities, notably within the dynamic Texas market. Betts, Hammons, and Meredith are renowned dealmakers, each bringing a distinct yet complementary skillset that will significantly benefit clients navigating the complexities of private equity investments, mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures.

Jesse Betts, a distinguished corporate attorney, guides private equity sponsors, management teams, and high-net-worth individuals through every stage of the investment lifecycle. His extensive industry experience spans upstream and midstream oil and gas, oilfield water and waste disposal, manufacturing, logistics, medical device, and technology sectors. Betts’s practice is deeply rooted in private equity investment, complex mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, internal restructurings, securities law compliance, securities offerings, venture capital investments, and essential corporate governance matters.

Jessica Hammons, a recognized dealmaker in the Texas legal landscape, specializes in corporate and securities transactions, with a particular focus on the upstream and midstream energy, manufacturing, and financial services industries. Her comprehensive experience includes private equity investments,public and private mergers,acquisitions,divestitures,public and private securities offerings,SEC reporting,corporate governance,and general corporate and contract matters.nathan Meredith, a consistently top-ranked transactional attorney, centers his practice on mergers and acquisitions and private equity investments. He possesses significant expertise in the acquisition and divestiture of oil and gas assets and companies, as well as private equity funding arrangements. Meredith also represents a diverse range of publicly and privately held companies and private equity funds across energy, infrastructure, manufacturing, and technology sectors, advising on joint ventures, portfolio company investments, commercial transactions, and general corporate matters.Holt Foster, Managing Partner of willkie’s Dallas office, expressed immense enthusiasm for the new arrivals. “The addition of Jesse, Jessica, and Nathan is a pivotal moment for our Dallas team,” Foster stated. “It further solidifies Willkie’s position as a first-class transactional powerhouse in Dallas and builds upon the significant momentum we’ve seen with the recent addition of several impressive lateral partners. Many of us in the Dallas office, myself included, have had the pleasure of working with Jesse, Jessica, and Nathan previously. We no firsthand their caliber as premier transactional practitioners and trusted advisors. Their deep market knowledge and extensive experience are invaluable and will beautifully complement our robust M&A and private equity capabilities, both here in Texas and across the Firm.”

Echoing this sentiment, Jesse Betts remarked, “The opportunity to partner and collaborate with this group of distinguished and trusted advisors, many of whom I’ve known for years, is profoundly inspiring. Willkie’s unwavering dedication to the Texas market and its commitment to excellence in private equity, mergers and acquisitions, and capital markets align perfectly with our clients’ needs and my own professional aspirations.”

Both Jesse Betts and Jessica Hammons join Willkie from Akin gump,while Nathan Meredith makes his move to Willkie from A&O Shearman.

Willkie’s Dallas office, launched in May 2024, continues its rapid expansion, extending the Firm’s preeminent private equity, M&A, finance, and asset management practices to a broad spectrum of clients located not only in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex but also nationwide. The Dallas team offers comprehensive counsel on corporate transactions, private equity, finance, restructuring, tax, and other transactional matters, boasting significant experience across vital sectors including energy, infrastructure, industrial, manufacturing, aviation, automotive, chemicals, real estate, technology, and retail.

In a testament to its growing presence and commitment to the Dallas market, Willkie recently expanded its footprint by securing a second floor at The Quad in Uptown Dallas earlier this year.

About Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP*

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP is a leading international law firm with offices in New York, Washington, D.C., Chicago, San Francisco, London, paris, Frankfurt, Milan, Rome and Singapore. The Firm is a pioneer in private equity, corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, litigation, and antitrust law, advising a global clientele with a focus on strategic, sophisticated counsel.

what types of private equity transactions do Chad Roley, Scott Gilpin, and Brian Feehan specialize in?

Expanding Capabilities in a Key Market

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP has significantly bolstered its Dallas private equity practice with the addition of three experienced transactional partners: Chad Roley, Scott Gilpin, and Brian Feehan. This strategic expansion underscores Willkie’s commitment to the thriving Texas market and its dedication to serving the complex needs of private equity sponsors and companies. The move positions Willkie as a key player in the increasingly competitive landscape of private equity law.

Meet the New Partners

Each partner brings a wealth of experiance and a proven track record in handling refined private equity transactions.

Chad Roley: Specializes in mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, and recapitalizations. He frequently advises private equity funds on investments across various industries.

Scott Gilpin: Focuses on representing companies and private equity sponsors in complex M&A transactions, including leveraged acquisitions, divestitures, and joint ventures.

Brian Feehan: Experienced in advising private equity firms and corporations on a wide range of transactions, including buyouts, growth equity investments, and strategic acquisitions.

Their combined expertise covers a broad spectrum of M&A advisory services, enhancing Willkie’s ability to provide comprehensive legal support throughout the entire transaction lifecycle.

impact on Willkie’s Dallas Office & Private equity Group

This addition represents a considerable investment in Willkie’s Dallas office, which has been steadily growing its presence in the Texas legal market.The new partners will work closely with existing Willkie teams to provide clients with seamless and integrated legal solutions.

The expansion directly strengthens Willkie’s national private equity practice, already recognized for its work in sectors like:

Financial Services

Healthcare

Technology

Consumer Products

Benefits for Clients: Enhanced Service Offerings

Clients of Willkie Farr & Gallagher can expect several key benefits from this expansion:

Increased Capacity: The additional partners provide greater capacity to handle a larger volume of complex transactions.

Deepened Expertise: The team’s combined experience offers a broader range of specialized knowledge in leveraged finance, mergers and acquisitions, and private capital.

Local Market Knowledge: The Dallas-based partners possess a strong understanding of the Texas business environment and regulatory landscape.

full-Service Support: Willkie’s integrated approach allows clients to access a full suite of legal services, including corporate law, antitrust, and litigation.

Trends in private Equity Dealmaking – Texas Focus

Texas continues to be a hotbed for private equity activity, driven by a favorable business climate, a growing population, and a diverse economy. Key trends driving deal flow include:

1. Energy transition: Investments in renewable energy and sustainable technologies are on the rise.
2. Healthcare Consolidation: Continued consolidation within the healthcare industry is fueling M&A activity.
3. Technology Growth: Texas is attracting significant investment in technology companies, particularly in areas like software, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence.
4. Middle Market Focus: Private equity firms are increasingly targeting middle-market companies in Texas, seeking opportunities for growth and value creation.

Willkie’s expanded Dallas team is well-positioned to capitalize on these trends and advise clients on navigating the evolving private equity market.

Willkie’s Broader Strategy & Competitive Landscape

Willkie’s strategic expansion in Dallas aligns with a broader trend among leading law firms to strengthen their presence in key regional markets. Competitors in the Dallas private equity legal services space include firms like:

Kirkland & ellis

Vinson & Elkins

Sidley Austin

* Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher

By adding experienced partners with strong reputations, Willkie aims to differentiate itself and attract a growing share of the market. The firm’s commitment to providing high-quality legal advice and building long-term client relationships is a key component of its success.

Navigating Data Security When Accessing Accounts on Public Devices

given the increasing need for remote work and access to sensitive details, it’s crucial to prioritize data security. As highlighted by Google’s support documentation (https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/2917834?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop), if you must sign in to accounts on a shared or public device, always utilize a private browsing window. This prevents the browser from saving your login credentials, browsing history, or other personal information. This practice is particularly vital when dealing with financial transactions or sensitive corporate data related to private equity deals.