Mark Mifsud, an SJ Berwin partner since 1999, is undeniably one of the biggest stars of the firm’s market-leading funds formation practice. Indeed, his reputation helped SJ Berwin land an instruction to advise leading European buyout specialist Candover on the hugely successful final closing of a €3.5bn (£2.4bn) buyout fund. The deal was the first time that SJ Berwin acted for Candover on a fundraising; the firm historically instructs Clifford Chance and Ashurst for fund formation work.

The 2005 fund, which was raised in just over six months, received commitments from 105 investor groups and exceeeded comfortably its original target of €3bn (£2.06bn). In addition to Candover, Mifsud’s client list boasts the likes of Aberdeen Murray Johnstone Private Equity, Anglo Irish Private Equity, Axa Private Equity, Electra Partners Europe, Lloyds TSB Development Capital and Vision Capital.