SJ Berwin strengthens TDR bond with billion-pound fund

SJ Berwin has firmed up its relationship with private equity house TDR Capital following former corporate finance partner Blair Thompson’s appointment as the group’s chief cooperating officer (COO) in May.

The silver circle firm advised the private equity house on its successful €1.75bn TDR Capital II fund raising. The fund, which follows TDR's first €550m fund on which SJ Berwin also advised, was raised in four months.

The mandate follows Thompson’s move across to the newly created position of COO on 1 May, a role which includes responsibility for TDR’s external legal advice.

TDR has historically used a range of firm’s including Linklaters, Ashurst and Simpson Thatcher, but has been widely tipped to increase its instructions to SJ Berwin on fund formation work following Thompson’s move.

The latest successful fund raising follows the strong performance of several of TDR’s first fund's investments, including the Pizza Express and Ask restaurant group and Pearl Group.

SJ Berwin’s team was lead by Thompson's former colleague Richard Watkins, the firm’s new relationship partner for TDR Capital.