Latham & Watkins announced Monday it powered up its private equity practice by adding Max Klupchak, the general counsel of The Sterling Group.
Klupchak, who was in-house with Sterling for a decade, will advise private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies on leveraged buyouts, mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and minority investments, with a particular focus on the industrial, manufacturing, distribution, and business services sectors.
“Max is a dynamic lawyer with a deep understanding of the private equity ecosystem in Texas and throughout the U.S., and we are thrilled to welcome him to the firm,” Nick Dhesi, Latham’s Houston office managing partner, said in the firm announcement.
“His experience with middle-market deals and the industrials and manufacturing sectors, in particular, enhances our leading private equity practice not only in Texas, but across the firm.”
At Sterling, a Texas-based middle-market private equity firm, Klupchak was responsible for all fund, GP, compliance, and portfolio matters. He was named general counsel in 2019.
Klupchak has gone to lawyers at Latham to lead several deals for Sterling this year.
— In July, Dhesi and Bruce Herzog guided Sterling’s acquisition of a majority stake in Precision Concepts International from ONCAP.
— Dhesi and Herzog also led Sterling’s sale of West Star Aviation to Greenbrier Equity Group in May.
— And in February, Herzog, Scott Miller and Richard Quay steered the private equity firm in its sale of Frontline Road Safety to Bain Capital.
“Having worked alongside Latham for many years as a client, I have seen how the firm is uniquely positioned to provide a collaborative approach and vast practice that are second to none. I am excited to join the team and look forward to contributing to the firm’s ongoing success and growth,” Klupchak said in a statement.
Alex Kelly, Latham’s global co-chair of Latham’s Mergers & Acquisitions and Private Equity practice, noted Klupchak’s “commercial insight and operational experience” will aid clients as private equity transactions become “increasingly complex and competitive.”
Prior to his 10 years with Sterling, Klupchak practiced a combined six-and-a-half years with Kirkland & Ellis in Houston and Ropes & Gray in Chicago and San Francisco.