Paul Hastings hires Dentons UK funds head

Partner Ted Craig joined Dentons in April 2019 after more than five years at MJ Hudson, where he was head of private funds.

Paul Hastings has added a well-known secondaries lawyer to its London practice.

The Los Angeles-headquartered firm has appointed Ted Craig as a partner in its Private Investment Funds practice, according to a statement. He comes to the role from Dentons, where was head of the UK private funds practice.

“As our clients continue to seek out new avenues to raise capital in pursuit of growth, they require sophisticated legal counsel to help guide them through the risks and complexities of the global markets,” said Paul Hastings chairman Seth Zachary. “Ted is a valuable addition to our leading private investment funds practice.”

Craig’s areas of secondaries expertise include fund restructurings, preferred equity, spinouts and new manager formation across private equity, credit, venture capital, real estate and infrastructure, the statement said.

Craig joined Dentons in April 2019 after more than five years at MJ Hudson, where he was private funds head, Secondaries Investor reported. He was listed in 2017’s 30 under 40, a ranking of the best young lawyers compiled by affiliate title Private Funds CFO, then known as Private Funds Management.

In July 2019, Paul Hastings poached secondaries lawyers Ed Harris, Leanne Moezi and  Adam Brown from Hogan Lovells. The three returned to their old firm the following year.

Paul Hastings’ private investment funds practice represents sponsors and investors on secondaries transactions across the spectrum of alternative asset classes, according to its website. It is chaired by partner Joshua Sternoff.

The team has four secondaries-focused lawyers in London and two in Los Angeles, said a spokeswoman for the firm. Craig will be the fifth on joining next month.