William Blair Expands Private Capital Advisory Group in Europe

William Blair, the premier global boutique with expertise in investment banking, investment management, and private wealth management, announced today the expansion of the firm’s Private Capital Advisory team in Europe with the addition of Connor O’Keeffe as managing director. Based in London, O’Keeffe will focus on fund placement and advisory services for general partners (GPs) throughout Europe.

“Connor’s addition to our Private Capital Advisory team further demonstrates our commitment to providing dedicated advisory and fund placement capabilities in Europe and bolstering our investor coverage in the region,” said Jerome Wallace and Brian Williams, co-heads of Private Capital Advisory at William Blair. “His extensive experience and long-standing relationships, combined with William Blair’s comprehensive Private Capital Advisory solutions, will provide European financial sponsors and their investors with best-in-class service.”

O’Keeffe joins William Blair after more than 16 years in the private funds group at Credit Suisse, where he served as managing director. At Credit Suisse, O’Keeffe focused on private placements and related services, including fund placement, direct corporate capital raising (directs and co-investments), and GP-led secondaries across Europe and Asia. He received his B.A. in accounting and finance from Stellenbosch University and an honours in accounting and finance accreditation from the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

“It is my pleasure to join William Blair’s Private Capital Advisory group and expand our team’s presence in Europe,” O’Keeffe said. “The team’s differentiated approach ensures strong client alignment and superior execution, and I’m looking forward to supporting our distribution and advisory solutions in the European market.”

William Blair’s holistic platform for financial sponsors in Europe includes the firm’s experienced Financial Sponsors Group, which in August added Patrick Irwin as a director, and its Private Capital Advisory team, which expanded to the continent in 2023 with the hiring of Tom Lewis in London and Silke Wood in Zurich. The Private Capital Advisory team has completed six fund placement mandates since establishing that practice last year, all exceeding their target and representing nearly $4 billion in commitments from LPs in North America, Europe, and the Middle East.

About William Blair Investment Banking

William Blair’s investment banking group enables corporations, financial sponsors, and owner/entrepreneurs around the world to achieve their growth, liquidity, and financing objectives. Drawing on the collective intellectual capital and deep sector expertise of a global team that reaches over 20 cities on four continents, the investment banking group brings a rigorous and innovative approach to corporate board advisory projects, mergers and acquisitions, and equity and debt financing. From July 2019 to June 2024, the team advised on more than $770 billion in completed transaction volume.

About William Blair

William Blair is the premier global boutique with expertise in investment banking, investment management, and private wealth management. We provide advisory services, strategies, and solutions to meet our clients’ evolving needs. As an independent and employee-owned firm, together with our strategic partners, we operate in more than 20 offices worldwide.*

*Includes strategic partnerships with Allier Capital, BDA Partners, and Poalim Capital Markets.