Livingstone continues to grow its Chicago and debt advisory teams

Livingstone is pleased to announce the addition of Chicago-based Managing Director Mark Birkett. He joins the firm from William Blair, where he was a Director in their Capital Advisory Group.

Birkett brings over a decade of debt advisory and middle market lending experience to Livingstone and looks forward to enhancing the firm’s network of private equity backed and entrepreneur owned businesses, and its experience with capital providers around the US and the globe. Birkett and Debt Advisory Partner Tom Lesch, together, will focus on raising $20-200 million debt facilities for clients across all industries.

“As an independent advisor not affiliated with specific lenders, Livingstone has a unique ability to source capital solutions from a variety of traditional and alternative lenders that can customize to a client’s unique situation,” said Birkett. “The amount of liquidity in the lower middle market will continue to drive meaningful financing activity in 2016 and beyond.”

In recent months, Livingstone’s Debt Advisory practice has built on an extensive track record of securing attractive financing solutions for private equity clients. Last week, Livingstone announced the raising of a new credit facility for Calvert Street Capital Partners’ portfolio company Premium Inspection and Testing. “As regulatory pressures evolve and new debt structures enter the marketplace, we continue to see more financial sponsors relying on debt advisory services to bring a range of options to the table,” said Lesch.

Prior to joining William Blair, Birkett spent eight years at GE Antares Capital, underwriting leveraged loans in support of PE buyouts, recapitalizations and refinancings. He began his career as a financial analyst at Raytheon Company and received an M.B.A from the University of Michigan and a B.S.B.A. from Villanova University.

Birkett becomes the latest addition to Livingstone’s growing U.S. team. The firm recently announced the hiring of Houlihan Lokey veterans Managing Director Michael Jenny in Chicago and Partner Brennan Libbey to run the firm’s new Los Angeles office.

David Sulaski, Managing Partner at Livingstone noted, “This exceptional period of growth for our firm emphasizes the resilience of the middle market and Livingstone’s strong reputation as a trusted advisor.  We will be announcing other significant moves in the coming weeks.”