LAVA Advisory Partners enters US with New York office
UK headquartered advisory firm LAVA Advisory Partners has launched a new permanent presence in New York. As the firm takes up residence in the Big Apple’s iconic Chrysler Building, it has named Carlo Porreca and Helen Dixon as its first US partners.
LAVA is a London-based M&A advisory firm focused on the lower-mid-market deal segment. Over the years, the firm has established a growing track record working with US private equity – something which has made expansion across the Atlantic an attractive prospect.
Having recently tied up an £8 million growth funding agreement with Beechbrook Capital, heading stateside was a top priority for the firm as a result. Looking ahead, the US expansion will enable the firm to act as a concierge for American private equity and investment firms seeking acquisitions and investments across the UK and Europe.
Simon Woodcock, a partner at LAVA Advisory Partners, who co-founded the firm in 2020, said, “We already work regularly with US investors, and having Carlo and Helen in the market means those relationships can become a much more seamless part of our work.”
New partners
Leading the charge, veteran M&A executives Carlo Porreca and Helen Dixon will become LAVA’s first partners based outside the UK.
Porreca brings nearly two decades of experience in deal origination, investment banking, private equity origination, and M&A. The founder of Wall Springs Capital, he will lead LAVA’s US sponsor coverage, with a particular focus on B2B, healthcare, and technology-enabled services. Meanwhile, Dixon has more than 20 years’ transaction advisory experience and has held senior roles at Grant Thornton and BDO. Originally from the UK and based in the US since 2017, she specialises in financial due diligence and will work across LAVA’s international transactions.
Porreca noted, “I’ve spent much of my career connecting business owners with investors, often across different markets. LAVA’s deep understanding of the UK and European business landscape, combined with my US sponsor relationships and knowledge, gives us an unprecedented opportunity to put the most relevant opportunities in front of the right people, for the best possible results.”
“Having spent much of my career working across UK and US transactions, I’ve seen first-hand how differently buyers in each market can assess opportunities and approach a transaction,” Dixon concluded. “I’m excited to bring that perspective to LAVA’s cross-border work, helping our clients anticipate how they will be viewed by international investors and ensuring they are positioned to make the most of those opportunities.”
