Global law firm White & Case announced that it has added two new partners to the firm. The Global Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) Practice and Global Investment Funds Practice expanded with the addition of Stephen Culhane as a partner in New York and Henry Birch as a partner in London.
Stephen Culhane
Culhane focuses on the formation, structuring, and operation of fund products, advising on all stages of fundraising, governance, and compliance. He has significant experience advising sponsors of private equity, real estate, and private credit funds, pursuing strategies that include secondary investments, venture capital, international real estate, specialty finance, and special situations programs. He also has extensive experience in complex secondary transactions.
Culhane joins White & Case from another leading law firm, where he was a Co-Head of its Investment Management Practice. Previously, he served as an Associate General Counsel at Goldman Sachs and as the Legal Director to Goldman Sachs Asset Management’s Private Equity Group.
Henry Birch
Birch advises private equity funds and other financial investor clients on all aspects of their investments, from initial acquisition through to ultimate exit. And he joins White & Case from Kirkland & Ellis, where he was a partner.
KEY QUOTES (Stephen Culhane):
“We have strong client demand for funds advice. Stephen’s arrival will enhance our fund sponsor offering in the US and demonstrates our commitment to advancing our position as a full-service private equity destination, globally.”
White & Case Chair Heather McDevitt
“Stephen is a respected lawyer who brings strong fund sponsor experience. His practice is synergistic with our global base of leading asset management clients, who will benefit from his expertise as we continue to guide them through their most complex transactions.”
Emily Brown, Head of White & Case’s Global Investment Funds Practice
KEY QUOTES (Henry Birch):
“We saw an increase in both investments and exits in private equity in 2024 and we expect that trend to continue as we move through 2025. Henry’s experience perfectly dovetails with our existing expertise across EMEA, bringing client synergies and building on our strong bench, particularly in Paris, London, Frankfurt, the Nordics and the Middle East.”
White & Case partner Thierry Bosly, co-head of the firm’s Global Mergers & Acquisitions Practice
“White & Case enjoyed a successful 2024 in which our revenue increased by 12.5 percent, driven in part by high levels of private equity activity that has continued into 2025. This supports our ongoing strategic priority to continue building globally to ensure we are best placed to advise our corporate and financial sponsor clients on their most important and complex transactions. Henry’s strong track record advising on cross border private equity transactions for global clients clearly supports our strategy.”
White & Case partner and Vice Chair Oliver Brettle
