Francesco Salpietro
Partner

Overview
Francesco Salpietro is a corporate and transactional attorney in Holland & Knight's Philadelphia office, where he focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions (M&A), search funds, private equity and general corporate advisory work.
Clients rely on Mr. Salpietro's knowledge and experience when it comes to M&A, asset sales, roll-up transactions, divestitures, capital raising, equity structuring and exit strategies. His diverse client base includes domestic and international search funds, private equity firms and their portfolio companies, founders and entrepreneurs, family offices, family-owned enterprises and other private and public companies.
Mr. Salpietro also has extensive experience representing search funds and search fund entrepreneurs. He has represented dozens of search funds – led by searchers from some of the top MBA programs in the country – in all phases of their search, including initial formation, acquisition, operation and exit.
Mr. Salpietro's industry experience is far-reaching and includes manufacturing, distribution, financial services, wealth management, life sciences, medical devices, waste management, residential and commercial services, software as a service (SaaS) offerings and event and project management.
In addition to his corporate work, Mr. Salpietro is an active member of the LGBTQ+ legal community, and his pro bono efforts focus on representing LGBTQ+ individuals in name changes and asylum proceedings.
Representative Experience
Credentials
- University of Pittsburgh School of Law, J.D., magna cum laude
- University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance, B.M.A., Voice Performance, with highest honors
- Pennsylvania
- National LGBT Bar Association
- Philadelphia Bar Association, LGBT Rights Committee
- University of Pittsburgh Law Review, Lead Executive Editor
- University of Michigan, Alumni Recruiter
- University of Pittsburgh School of Law, Alumni Association
- The Best Lawyers in America, Philadelphia Ones to Watch, Corporate Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law, 2025
- Order of the Coif
- 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
- James B. Angell Scholar, University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance, 2009-2013