Overview
Emily Deagen is a partner in the Private Equity practice at Paul Hastings and is based in the firm’s Boston office. She counsels private equity, growth equity and private credit funds as well as privately held companies in complex corporate transactions, including platform and add-on acquisitions, equity investments, leveraged buyouts and recapitalizations, sales and other significant transactions.
A leading advisor in the search funds industry, Emily has extensive experience representing searchers, investors and companies in all phases of the “entrepreneurship through acquisition” lifecycle, including fund formation, fundraising, acquisitions, company operations and exit strategies.
Emily also advises clients on general corporate matters, debt and equity financings, corporate governance, commercial agreements and employment matters. Her experience spans a range of industries, including technology, life sciences, healthcare, media and entertainment, insurance and consumer products.
She also has advised both nonprofit and for-profit clients regarding commercial co-ventures, cause marketing and related governance and compliance matters.
Emily maintains an active pro bono practice supporting cancer research nonprofits, including the Rare Cancer Research Foundation and the Ewing Sarcoma Institute.
Emily received her J.D. from Harvard Law School, where she received the Dean’s Award for Community Citizenship, and her B.S. in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University.
Accolades
- Best Lawyers, Ones to Watch, Corporate Law and Mergers & Acquisitions Law (2026)
- Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) Accelerator Program (August 2023)
- Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, Excellence in the Law: Up & Coming Lawyer (2023)
Education
- Harvard Law School, J.D., 2015
- Cornell University, B.S., 2012
Representations
- Goldman Sachs in multiple investment transactions, including investments in AlphaSense, Deepwatch, Egnyte and GumGum
- Great Hill Partners and TodayTix Group in sale of TodayTix to MARI
- Varicent and Great Hill Partners on a strategic investment in Varicent by Warburg Pincus, Great Hill Partners and Spectrum Equity
- Multiple financing sources for Cobepa S.A.’s acquisition of Eagle Fire, a leading provider of fire and life safety services
- Triyam and its parent company, Estelio Partners, in the sale of Triyam to Access Information Management
- Great Hill Partners in numerous portfolio company matters, including Bombas, CustomInk and Second Nature
Matters may have been completed before joining Paul Hastings.
Engagement & Publications
- Speaker, “Corporate and Tax Considerations for Business Structures: Entity Fundamentals and Emerging Issues,” ALI CLE, Oct. 21, 2025
- Moderator, “The GP Playbook: Career Navigation and Investment Strategy Mastery,” COLAB Connects Career Forum, Oct. 10, 2025
- Panelist, “Seller Negotiations & Relationship Management” Webinar, Women’s Search Network, May 8, 2025
- Panelist, “Best Practices for Selecting Third Party Providers” Webinar, Next Coast ETA, Dec. 14, 2023
Involvement
- Member, City Year Greater Boston Seven Generations Board
- Member, Women’s Search Network