Global market volatility, geopolitical uncertainty and an overall deal-making slump all contributed to a downturn in private equity fundraising for the first quarter of 2016, but experts say that law firms can help their PE clients weather the storm by advising they stay true to their fundraising strategies while using downtime to focus on other aspects of the business.
But the confluence of factors that disrupt the flow of fundraising can seem especially daunting at any given time, according to Howard Berkower, a partner with McCarter & English LLP’s corporate practice, and taking on challenges is part of doing business. The first step to overcoming the plethora of problems plaguing the fundraising market is recognizing that there will always be factors in play that appear to stack the deck against firms.
Berkower added that downtime can be spent putting together a list of potential connections that could be beneficial for a client, or looking into recapitalizations of portfolio companies.
“Always have an open mind,” Berkower said. “Always try to think outside of the box.”