Leslie Vaughn Mahre
Partner, Attorney at Holland & Knight LLP
adjunct professor and co-director of the Texas Transactional Skills Program at The University of Texas School of LawWorks with buyers & sellers
About
Leslie Vaughn Mahre advises search funds and independent sponsors on equity structuring and deal closings. She represents traditional and self-funded searchers, owners, and management teams. She guides private equity funds, family offices, and private credit funds through mergers and divestitures. She forms private investment funds and co-investment vehicles. She counsels small business investment company funds on mezzanine structures with equity. She earned her J.D. at The University of Texas School of Law. She earned her B.A. at the University of Notre Dame. She co-directs the Texas Transactional Skills Program as an adjunct professor and teaches Partnerships and Joint Ventures. Before Holland & Knight LLP, she was Chief Corporate Counsel at an IT service management company. She provided legal support for its global mergers and financings.
Who is a good fit for Leslie Vaughn Mahre
- Independent sponsors and self-funded searchers structuring equity for an acquisition.
- Business owners selling a private company to a financial sponsor.
- Owners of fashion, beauty, or wellness brands raising capital or selling.
- Private equity funds acquiring oilfield services or clean technology companies.
Education and admissions
- Education
- The University of Texas School of Law, J.D.
- University of Notre Dame, B.A.
- Bar admissions
- Tennessee, Texas
Recognition
- The Best Lawyers in America guide, Houston Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law Ones to Watch, 2026, 2027
Specialties
Buy-side M&A representationSell-side M&A representationRollover equity and recapitalizationsEntity formation and holding structuresSearch fund and independent sponsor representationPrivate equity platform and add-on deals
Representative matters
As described on the firm’s website.
- Representation of a new independent sponsor in the investment structuring, acquisition and debt financing of a commercial and residential HVAC platform, including multiple add-on acquisitions across the U.S.
- Representation of a new independent sponsor in the investment structuring, acquisition and debt financing of an athletic facility, a municipal park, and other commercial and residential turf and landscaping design, construction, installation and maintenance platform
- Representation of a multifamily office in the formation and funding of multiple oil and gas royalty and non-operating working interest- focused portfolio companies
- Representation of a private equity-backed leading utility scale energy storage and renewable energy platform in the U.S. in its sale of a 50 percent equity interest to a global private equity fund
- Representation of one of the worlds' largest infrastructure investment funds in the formation of a $3.3 billion investment syndicate to fund the acquisition of a controlling interest in a leading midstream infrastructure company and subsequent take-private transaction ($3,300,000,000)
- Representation of a leading provider of growth capital to the independent sector of the U.S. energy industry in the acquisition of interests in multiple renewable energy portfolio companies from an energy-focused private equity firm
- Representation of a leading investor in power, renewables, storage and sustainability and decarbonization infrastructure, in its acquisition of the largest independent operator of sand and well consumable transloading facilities in the U.S.
- Representation of an energy-focused private equity firm in its acquisition of a controlling, majority interest in one of the largest supplier of oil drilling equipment
- Representation of a private equity fund and its technology logistics focused portfolio company in the acquisition of the a self-host web-based productivity app from an oilfield equipment solutions company
- Representation of a private insurance company in the indirect acquisition of an undivided interest in a coal power plant generation unit subject to ongoing sale-leaseback arrangements
Deal profile
- Typical deal size
- Any deal size
- Remote work
- In-person / regional
Frequently Asked Questions
Leslie Vaughn Mahre advises private equity funds and management teams on upstream, midstream, and oilfield services investments. She also advises on clean technology companies and mineral interest funds. She handles equity financings for energy and infrastructure development. She also forms joint ventures for those energy projects.
Leslie Vaughn Mahre advises on secondaries, recapitalizations, and workouts. As co-chair of the Fashion, Beauty and Wellness practice she advises brands and investors on capital raises, acquisitions, and sales, and she represents U.S. clients abroad and international clients on deals in the United States.