Course curriculum

    1. Course instructors

    2. What is private equity?

    3. Private vs. public

    4. Other investors in private businesses

    1. The role of private equity firms

    2. How private equity firms make money

    1. Raising capital for a fund

    2. The structure of private equity funds, investors and portfolio companies

    3. Insights into the fundraising process from a senior PE fundraiser

    1. The steps involved in making investment decisions

    2. Due diligence on investment targets

    3. Valuing potential investments

    1. Different types of funding

    2. The use of debt / leveraged buyouts

    3. Equity investments

    1. Different types of acquisition

    2. Auction processes

    3. Management buy-ins / buy-outs

    4. Due diligence

    5. Key transaction documents

    6. Signings and completions

    1. The role of investment banks on private equity transactions

    2. Overview of the role of lawyers on private equity transactions

    3. What trainees do on private equity transactions

    1. Corporate governance

    2. Incentivising portfolio company management teams

    3. How the value of portfolio companies is increased

    4. A private equity investor's experience of increasing the value of portfolio companies

    5. The role of lawyers in helping PE firms to manage portfolio companies

    1. Exiting investments

    2. A private equity investor's experience of exits

Private equity

  • 31 lessons
  • 2 hours of video content

Why is this the best introduction to private equity?

In short, because the course was created by senior professionals with decades of combined experience working on the legal, financial and commercial aspects of private equity transactions.

  • The most comprehensive online course specifically built to demystify private equity for aspiring commercial lawyers.

  • Our instructors have worked as investors at leading global private equity firms, in fundraising roles, and as lawyers in both the private equity and leveraged finance teams of top global law firms.

  • We cover the private equity fundamentals in a concise, easily-digestible way. No prior knowledge needed!

  • We've created animated videos to explain complex concepts more clearly and improve your learning experience.

  • We've included content from our best-selling Commercial Law Handbook and Training Contract Handbook.

Instructors

Our selection of experts from across the private equity ecosystem

PE and VC investor Yash Zaveri

Yash started his career in the M&A team at JP Morgan, before transitioning to an investor role at leading international private equity firm Cinven. He subsequently worked as a partner and managing director at investment fund Flash Ventures, before leaving to found his own fund, Lucid.

Ex Magic Circle & Elite US lawyer turned headhunter Luke Mitchinson

Luke trained and qualified at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, where he worked for 3.5 years (including a secondment at Bank of America Merrill Lynch). He then joined the private equity team at Ropes & Gray, where he worked for 3 years, before changing careers to focus on legal headhunting.

Counsel, Leveraged Finance, US law firm Anonymous Instructor

This instructor has practised as a lawyer at three global US-headquartered law firms. She focuses on leveraged finance, often in the context of private equity, and was promoted to counsel by her current firm.

Commercial Law Academy Founder & Ex-Freshfields Lawyer Jake Schogger

Jake Schogger is a qualified lawyer, career coach, entrepreneur, author, copywriter and consultant. He is the founder and CEO of City Career Series, a publishing company that has sold ~50,000 handbooks designed to help students secure City careers, including the critically acclaimed Commercial Law Handbook and Training Contract Handbook. He also founded Commercial Law Academy. He trained at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP and now acts as a legal adviser to start-ups and scale-ups, whilst also working as a career coach and delivering career-related presentations at universities across the UK. In addition, Jake works with tech start-ups and runs a variety of his own businesses. Connect with Jake on LinkedIn via www.linkedin.com/in/jakeschogger

Vice President, Fundraising Advisory Jean-baptiste Portelli

Jean-baptiste has spent most of his career selling and marketing financial products to financial institutions and retail investors. He now advises a range of private equity firms and investors in connection with raising capital for funds.

The impact Commercial Law Academy is having...

Amber Pessoa

MSci Natural Sciences, University of Nottingham

“Such insightful resources - particularly helpful for preparing for an AC! The content brought my understanding of an M&A transaction from nothing to being able to successfully complete a case study interview!”

Zainab Atif

LLB, City Law School

“The academy has really been a crucial tool, simplifying what was otherwise a very complex and daunting process. As a result, I have received two assessment centre invites. It definitely is a must-have resource!”

Adam Khattak

Future trainee, CMS

“Incredibly useful resources! I was accepted onto a vacation scheme, which definitely wouldn’t have been possible without Commercial Law Academy - it can make a very big difference!”

Sophia Birch

LLB, University of Nottingham

"Thank you for the resources that the Commercial Law Academy provides - with the online platform I was able to secure my vacation schemes at a Magic Circle and another big law international firm!"

Rebecca Pauley

BA History, UCL and MSc Gender, LSE.

"Just wanted to drop a quick note to express how useful I've found the Academy for my applications this year. Going into AC preparation, I didn’t know where to start, so having specific courses laying out everything that might come up in competency and case study interviews has been an absolute game-changer. Ended up with ACs at Jones Day, Baker McKenzie, and Linklaters! Cannot thank you enough!"

Elaine Dunn

Trainee Solicitor, DLA Piper

"Commercial Law Academy was the key contributing factor to my success in securing a training contract with a major international law firm"

Demi, Law graduate

Feedback on her Commercial Law Academy membership

"Putting your advice into practice, I've landed a training contract with the largest of Ireland's top 5 firms. The Commercial Law Academy was an invaluable investment for my career. Jake has an outstanding teaching style..."

Final year History student

Feedback on the training contract module

"Brilliant, so in-depth and insightful...I feel much more confident about how to approach applications and demonstrate my skills in a way that matches those required."

Kristy, Australian Law graduate

Feedback on the M&A content

"I have just received an email from [Magic Circle firm] saying that I passed the case study interview! It involved mostly contents covered by your M&A course - thank you so so much!! Honestly would not have made it without your courses."

Final year Politics & International Relations student

Feedback on the assessment centre, growth mindset and employability content

"I found the insights you provided extremely helpful and easy to understand, especially as a non-law undergraduate entering the legal sector."

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