Holly Buckley, partner, McGuireWoods, is one of 36 dealmakers named in Mergers & Acquisitions’ 2019 Most Influential Women in Mid-Market M&A. Click here for the full list. This year, we asked the dealmakers to tell their stories in their own voices through Q&As.
How did you get into dealmaking?
I started my legal career as a healthcare regulatory attorney. At an early point in my legal career I assisted with a merger of two healthcare facilities. While working on this transaction it became clear to me that the pace and complexity of healthcare transactions was exciting and a space where I wanted to spend my professional life.
How has a mentor helped your career?
I have several mentors with whom I have cultivated relationships. I am fortunate that my mentors all have different approaches and are all successful in their own right. This variety means I can get multiple perspectives on the same issue.
What is your current role?
I am a partner within the healthcare practice of McGuireWoods LLP. I spend most of my time providing regulatory support to private equity sponsors aquiring health care businesses. I am also the co-leader of the Healthcare & Life Sciences Industry Team and a co-chair of our annual Healthcare and Life Sciences Private Equity and Finance Conference. There really is no typical day for me. Every day is different!
How do you support women?
I am actively involved in hiring for my department and the broader private equity group within the firm. I have hired and mentored many women in this field. In addition, I am part of the McGuireWoods Women in Private Equity and Finance Initiative, which promotes the advancement of women in private equity and lending through a series of industry-focused events that provide substantive educational and networking opportunities.
What is your advice for women?
I encourage women to be direct and persistent when asking for what they want. From an early point in my career I have asked for certain projects and opportunities, and I believe this is the reason I have created a career that I enjoy.
When you’re not making deals, what is your favorite thing to do?
I love to travel, both domestically and internationally. Within the U.S., I love to visit national parks. Outside the U.S., I have many more countries I would like to visit. My favorite trip in recent years has been to South Africa. However, recently, we welcomed our second daughter, so our international travel may be temporarily on hold!
What other career path might you have chosen?
Prior to law school, I worked for a publicly traded, electronic medical records company as a sales representative. During this time I developed my passion for healthcare. This sector brings together a unique mix of personalities and challenges! It is difficult to say what I would do if I were not a healthcare M&A lawyer, although I don’t think I would have found myself in a sector other than healthcare.
