Jessica L.Panza

Partner

Chicago + 1.312.269.4365

Jessica Panza's practice is focused on counseling private equity fund sponsors, investment advisors, and institutional investors on the structuring, formation, and operation of private investment funds and related arrangements such as co-investments, managed accounts, funds-of-one, joint ventures, and other custom investment structures. She has advised clients across the globe on every aspect of an investment vehicle's life cycle and the legal, regulatory, and compliance issues involved at each stage — from initial structuring and formation (including internal compensation, carried interest, and governance arrangements) through ongoing operational matters and culminating with asset disposition and dissolution. Her work also involves advising on portfolio investments, co-investments, and secondary transactions. Jessica's experience spans multiple asset classes, including buyout, real estate, infrastructure, growth equity, venture capital, private credit, secondaries, and fund-of-funds.

Jessica also regularly represents institutional investors in connection with primary and secondary investments, co-investments, separate accounts, and direct investment opportunities. She also advises clients on regulatory and securities issues, strategic relationships, corporate governance, and other general corporate matters.

Some of the clients Jessica works with include Franklin Park, LaSalle Investment Management, MARK Capital Management Limited (f.k.a. Meyer Bergman Limited), Morgenthaler Partners, the private equity arm of a global sovereign investors, U.S. and non-U.S.-based family offices, The Riverside Company, The Townsend Group, and Whitman Peterson Partners.

In community matters, Jessica volunteers for and serves on the board of directors for the Law Center for Better Housing, a Chicago-based, nonprofit agency that supports tenants' rights through providing legal and other supportive services.

Experience

  • Whitman/Peterson Partners IV, LP closes on $692 millionJones Day advised Whitman/Peterson LLC on the formation of Whitman/Peterson Partners IV, LP.
  • AGIC Capital closes $1.2 billion fund for investments in smart industriesJones Day acted as fund formation counsel to AGIC Capital for its $1.2 billion final closing of its second fund, AGIC Fund II L.P., which will be focused on advanced industrial and medical technology investments.
  • Riverside sells ARCOSJones Day advised The Riverside Company in its sale of ARCOS, the market leader in resource management software for utilities, airlines, and other critical infrastructure industries, to Vista Equity Partners.
  • Gilde Healthcare V raises €416 million for its venture and growth capital fundJones Day represented Gilde Healthcare in connection with the establishment of Gilde Healthcare V, a venture & growth capital fund that invests in digital and home health, medtech, diagnostics, research tools and instruments, and therapeutics.
  • Concord Health Partners forms AHA Innovation Development FundJones Day represented Concord Health Partners LLC in connection with the formation of the AHA Innovation Development Fund, LP, a fund focused on investing in early-stage healthcare companies that provide products, services, and solutions to hospitals and health systems.
  • Whitman/Peterson forms Core Plus FundJones Day advised Whitman/Peterson LLC in connection with the formation of its Core Plus Fund, which raised $115 million.
  • Undisclosed investor participates in $550 million Series F financing round of PelotonJones Day represented an undisclosed investor in the $550 million Series F financing by Peloton Interactive, Inc., a global fitness technology company.
  • Riverside sells Tate’s Bake Shop to Mondelez International for $500 millionJones Day represented The Riverside Company in connection with the sale of Tate’s Bake Shop to global snacks company Mondelez International, Inc. for approximately $500 million.
  • Riverside simultaneously acquires four businesses to create Netwatch Global GroupJones Day advised The Riverside Company on the simultaneous acquisition of four businesses resulting in the formation of the Netwatch Global Group.
  • Whitman/Peterson forms opportunistic fund, Whitman Peterson Partners III, LPJones Day advised Whitman/Peterson LLC in the formation of the third vintage of its opportunistic fund, Whitman Peterson Partners III, LP, which raised $402 million.
  • Meyer Bergman closes European Retail Partners III FundJones Day acted as counsel to Meyer Bergman, Ltd. in the formation and closing of Meyer Bergman European Retail Partners III, which, together with its dedicated co-investment vehicles, is a €990 million real estate private equity fund making investments in the retail sector  across Europe.
  • Riverside invests in ComForCare Health Care HoldingsJones Day represented The Riverside Company in connection with its investment in and related financing of ComForCare Health Care Holdings, LLC, the franchisor of ComForCare Home Care and At Your Side Home Care home care agencies.
  • Meyer Bergman negotiates fund with single investor partner and acquires 109 North 6th Street, Brooklyn, New YorkJones Day advised Meyer Bergman, Ltd., in its negotiation of a Brooklyn focused fund with single investor partner and the acquisition of 109 North 6th Street, Brooklyn, New York, by that fund.
  • MPE Partners acquires Bath Authority LLC d.b.a. DreamLineJones Day represented MPE Partners in connection with the acquisition and related financing of Bath Authority LLC d.b.a. DreamLine, a market leading, technology-driven designer, manufacturer, and marketer of premium bath and shower products.
  • StepStone closes Fund III with $700 million in capital commitmentsJones Day advised StepStone Group LP in the formation and closing of its $700 million fund, StepStone Real Estate Partners III, a U.S. and Europe-focused real estate private equity fund investing in special situations and providing capital solutions to managers and operators of institution real estate portfolios.
  • Riverside acquires Information TechnologiesJones Day advised The Riverside Company in connection with the acquisition and related financing of Information Technologies, Inc., a leading provider of software solutions that improve the safety of law enforcement officers, enhance officer efficiency and performance, and reduce the time required to report and respond to incidents.
  • Riverside acquires Nustef FoodsJones Day represented The Riverside Company in connection with its acquisition of Nustef Foods, a manufacturer of Italian-inspired pizelle waffle cookies and artisan crackers under the Reko brand.
  • Morgenthaler forms MPE Partners II, L.P.Jones Day advised Morgenthaler Private Equity in the formation of MPE Partners II, L.P., a private equity buyout fund ("MPE II").
  • Peterson Partners co-invests with Towerbrook Capital in Gravity MediaJones Day advised Peterson Partners a private equity firm which invested in a vehicle formed to co-invest with Towerbrook Capital Partners in Gravity Media, a holding company which owns, operates and acquires businesses serving the live broadcast sector globally.
  • Chapman University obtains advice regarding investment in LL Capital Partners I, L.P.Jones Day provided advice to Chapman University, a mid-sized private university, regarding an investment in LL Capital Partners I, L.P.