The ’lead investor’ conundrum: a buyer, adviser and lawyer share their thoughts

A secondaries buyer, adviser and lawyer walk into a room. This isn't the start of a bad joke – it's the culmination of an idea Secondaries Investor had after moderating a panel at an alternatives conference with AlpInvest Partners managing director Louis Choy, PJT Partners' European head of private capital solutions Johanna Lottmann and law firm Stephenson Harwood partner and head of private funds Sarah de Ste Croix. Over drinks at a nearby pub, the idea was born to record a podcast providing a 360-degree view of the latest trends in the market, as seen by representatives of the three main constituent groups.

In Part 1 of our group discussion, hosted by senior editor Adam Le, the trio share their thoughts on the legal, financial and commercial benefits of leading a deal. They discuss the ways secondaries participants are coming up with creative ways to name deal leads in transaction documents; why syndicate capital is just as important as lead buyer capital; and how this definition may evolve.

To hear more of our episodes, head to secondariesinvestor.com/podcast or you can search and subscribe to the new Secondaries Investor's Second Thoughts dedicated channel wherever you like to listen.