Francesco Salpietro
Partner, Attorney at Holland & Knight LLP
About
Francesco Salpietro, Partner at Holland & Knight LLP in Philadelphia, represents buyers and sellers on search fund deals. He has guided dozens of search funds, many led by searchers from top MBA programs, from formation through purchase, operations, and exit. He handles asset sales, roll-ups, divestitures, and equity structuring. Private equity firms hire him, as do their portfolio companies and domestic or international search funds. He also counsels founders, entrepreneurs, and family-owned enterprises on capital raising and Section 1202 qualified small business stock. He earned his J.D. at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. Beyond searchers and private equity, his clients include family offices and private and public companies, in industries from manufacturing, distribution, and financial services to life sciences, medical devices, and software as a service. Across them he handles the acquisitions, roll-ups, and exits that carry a company from one owner to the next.
Who is a good fit for Francesco Salpietro
- Search fund entrepreneurs who need counsel from formation through the company purchase and exit.
- Private equity firms organizing a roll-up or a divestiture for a portfolio company.
- Founders and entrepreneurs planning an asset sale or a capital raise.
- Family offices and family-owned enterprises buying or selling a company.
Education and admissions
- Education
- University of Pittsburgh School of Law, J.D.
- University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance, B.M.A. in Voice Performance
- Bar admissions
- Pennsylvania
Recognition
- The Best Lawyers in America, Philadelphia Ones to Watch, Corporate Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law, 2025-2027
- Dean's Merit Scholarship, University of Pittsburgh School of Law, 2013-2016
- Benjamin H. Teplitz Award, University of Pittsburgh School of Law, 2016
- Faculty Award of Excellence in Legal Scholarship, University of Pittsburgh School of Law, 2016
- Pro Bono Service Leadership Recognition Award, University of Pittsburgh School of Law, 2016
- CALI Excellence for the Future Award, Contracts, Criminal Law, Torts, Evidence, Estates & Trusts, Federal Courts & Federal Litigation, E-Discovery Seminar, 2013-2016
- International Association of LGBT Judges Writing Competition, First Place, 2016
- School of Law Community Service Award, 2016
Specialties
Representative matters
As described on the firm’s website.
- Represent dozens of search funds based in the United States, Mexico and Brazil in their initial capital raises and search-phase activities
- Advise on divestitures and recapitalizations of search-backed businesses, including the sale of a utility management platform and recapitalizations of a radiation monitoring company and laboratory information systems company (seller side)
- Represented a private-equity backed wealth management firm in its acquisition of more than seven investment advisory businesses
- Represented a publicly traded financial services company in its acquisitions of various financial advisory cloud-based software and portfolio intelligence tools
- Represented a provider of commercial waste management and recycled materials based in the Southeastern United States in its sale to an international waste management company
Deal profile
- Typical deal size
- Any deal size
- Remote work
- In-person / regional