Sheppard is pleased to announce that Heather Bethancourt and Linda Zeman have joined the firm as partners in the Corporate practice group.
As demand accelerates for sophisticated transactional counsel in private equity activity, healthcare and transatlantic dealmaking, Bethancourt and Zeman bring industry-specific experience to support an array of corporate deals, including complex outsourcing matters and cross-border mergers and acquisitions.
“Heather and Linda each bring the kind of experience our clients demand in today’s market to support their increasingly sophisticated transactions,” said Luca Salvi, chair of Sheppard. “Their collective expertise builds on the growth of our mergers and acquisitions, private equity, healthcare and technology transactions practices, expands our cross-border capabilities and adds depth in key markets where our clients are most active and growing.”
Bethancourt, based in Dallas, joins from McDermott Will & Schulte. She advises clients in business process and information technology outsourcing transactions and has extensive experience representing healthcare systems, carriers and vendors negotiating revenue cycle management outsourcing agreements and other complex outsourcing and commercial transactions. In addition, Bethancourt represents clients in AI and other technology licensing, technology service agreements, technology development, cloud-computing transactions and strategic alliances. She received her B.A. from Texas A&M University and her J.D., magna cum laude, Order of the Coif, from SMU Dedman School of Law.
Zeman, based in London, joins from Simmons & Simmons. She is an experienced private equity and M&A practitioner who represents private equity funds, sponsors and other corporate clients in transatlantic transactions spanning leveraged buyouts, acquisitions and disposals, mergers, joint ventures and corporate governance matters. She has particular depth in the healthcare, life sciences and technology sectors. She received her Bachelor of Commerce and her LL.B. from The Australian National University and her LLM from The University of Sydney.
Jeralin Cardoso, co-leader of Sheppard’s Corporate practice group, said, “Linda’s deep experience advising sponsors and portfolio companies is a timely addition as cross-border private equity and M&A transactions become more complex and competitive. Heather further strengthens our existing capabilities with her industry-recognized outsourcing practice and practical employee rebadging experience in healthcare, a critical skill for clients implementing operational change while maintaining continuity following mergers and acquisitions. We are thrilled to welcome them to the firm.”
“Joining Sheppard’s reputable presence in Dallas represents an opportunity to bolster my existing practice on a platform that is highly regarded among healthcare clients due to its client-centered approach,” said Bethancourt. “I look forward to collaborating with my colleagues across the firm to continue to build a technology and outsourcing practice that helps clients navigate increasingly complex strategic relationships.”
“I’ve had the pleasure of working alongside Sheppard lawyers over the years, and I’ve consistently been impressed by the quality of the firm’s work,” said Zeman. “I’m excited to build on those relationships to help private equity clients navigate high-stakes cross-border transactions.”
About Sheppard’s Corporate Practice
Sheppard’s Corporate practice delivers strategic, partner-led counsel on complex transactions and corporate matters for clients across industries and jurisdictions. With more than 230 corporate lawyers, the team advises on mergers and acquisitions, private equity investments, joint ventures, corporate restructurings, public offerings and corporate governance, bringing deep transactional experience and commercial judgment to matters ranging from early-stage growth to multibillion-dollar exits. Corporate lawyers collaborate seamlessly with colleagues in tax, employment, intellectual property, privacy, real estate, environmental and litigation to provide coordinated, efficient support through a single, experienced deal team.