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In a private equity article published in Law360, Daniel Mathias discusses flexible and hybrid capital investment strategies, which have become a solution for business owners considering capital fundraising but whose plans may not fit into the typical private equity or private credit options. He examines the features and nuances of flexible capital investments, which potentially offer numerous benefits for some.

In his first speech as Director of the UK Serious Fraud Office, Nick Ephgrave last month expressed provisional support for financial incentives to whistleblowers in cases alleging significant economic crime. This marks a strategic shift as he seeks new approaches to expedite investigations and prosecutions.

In this Client Alert, John Gibson, Thomas Shortland, and Ashley Collins explore the divergent approaches to whistleblower payment schemes in the UK and the U.S. and shed light on the challenges and opportunities faced in this area by the current Director of the SFO.

For the fifth consecutive year, international law firm Cohen & Gresser has been ranked in Global Investigations Review’s GIR 100 as one of the top law firms for cross-border investigations.

The GIR 100, a guide to the world’s best firms for investigations, recognized C&G for its work on behalf of high-profile individuals and companies and its strong network of prominent lawyers in key jurisdictions around the globe. The annual guide is based on submissions from law firms and extensive independent research, and honors the top 100 firms worldwide that handle sophisticated government-led, internal, and cross-border investigations.

C&G’s White Collar Defense and Regulation practice spans its New York, Washington, D.C., Paris, and London offices. The practice’s highly experienced Internal Investigations team works closely with global clients, including corporations, boards of directors, special committees, and audit committees, in connection with investigations of all sizes. The team’s work has ranged from discrete investigations in response to an anonymous employee complaint to wide-ranging investigations conducted against the backdrop of ongoing litigation and/or regulatory and criminal investigations.

Cohen & Gresser represented Sierra Holding Corporation, the primary parent of Sierra Space Corporation, a commercial space company that is building and delivering the infrastructure and systems required for the future of space travel, in its $290 million Series B financing round. The firm represented Sierra Space in its record-breaking $1.4 billion Series A financing in November 2021.

This latest financing brings Sierra Space’s total capital raised to $1.7 billion, which is the largest ever capital raise by a commercial space company and brings Sierra Space’s valuation to $5.3 billion.

MUFG, Japan’s largest bank, trading company Kanematsu Corporation, and Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance, Japan’s largest property and casualty insurer, led the Series B round, which also included participation from Sierra Space’s existing investors, including General Atlantic, Coatue, Moore Strategic Ventures, and funds and accounts managed by BlackRock Private Equity Partners and others.

Cohen & Gresser served as counsel to our client Sierra Holding on all aspects of the transaction. “We are proud of the opportunity to assist Sierra Holding in this follow-on transaction to support the future of space travel,” said Jeffrey M. Bronheim, lead partner on the engagement for Cohen & Gresser.

The Cohen & Gresser team was led by Jeffrey M. Bronheim, Daniel H. Mathias, and Bonnie J. Roe, with assistance from associate Myia Williams.

Read Sierra Space Corporation’s press release here.

The 2023 Chambers High Net Worth guide awarded high rankings to Cohen & Gresser’s White Collar Defense and Regulation group, which earned a Band 3 ranking for Financial Crime: High Net Worth Individuals. The firm is one of only 18 ranked in this category throughout the UK.

Two partners were individually ranked for their leading work for HNW clients:

• Richard Kovalevsky KC (Band 1, Financial Crime: High Net Worth Individuals, UK)
• John Gibson (Band 3, Financial Crime: High Net Worth Individuals, UK)

High Praise for Client Service and Sophisticated Work

Chambers highlights C&G’s strength in representing affluent clients in a “diverse range of complex work,” including “high-stakes tax and fraud-related investigations.” The team’s sanctions-related matters “stand out as sophisticated examples of cross-border work” and demonstrate its extensive capabilities in this space. Client feedback consistently praises the firm’s “attentive service,” specifically noting that, “with Cohen & Gresser, the client always comes first.” The members of the team are “all insightful and exceptional,” clients praised.

Richard Kovalevsky KC is lauded for his “commendable breadth of expertise” in work for affluent individuals and families facing allegations of fraud or facing tax investigations. He is “extremely dedicated to clients, hard-working and knows his subject matter inside out,” clients note. 

John Gibson is recognized for expertly navigating “financial crime matters of high complexity.” Chambers spotlights his work for high-profile clients and his “involvement on high-value, cross-border mandates.” Clients praised him for being “extremely thoughtful, careful and assertive" and for bringing “new ideas” to matters.

Since opening in 2018, C&G’s London office has built a roster of distinguished lawyers, including some of the UK’s most respected former prosecutors. Led by four highly regarded lawyers from the Bar, C&G’s London White Collar and Criminal Defense practice offers extensive experience and full-service capabilities tailored to meet the particular issues of high net worth individuals.

About Chambers High Net Worth

Published by Chambers & Partners, the 2023 Chambers High Net Worth guide ranks the leading lawyers and law firms for international private wealth. The guide is used by family offices and professional advisers to wealthy individuals, providing objective guidance on an international scale. According to Chambers, “Those ranked in the guide understand the complex needs of HNW individuals and provide specialist advice.”