Wragge & Co has landed its first instruction for private equity house Duke Street Capital in a healthcare deal worth £75m.

The venture capitalist this month sealed its buyout of Affinity Healthcare, which operates two psychiatric hospitals in the north of England. Corporate partner Ian Metcalfe led a Wragges team that included healthcare specialist Kevin Jones, national private equity chief Maurice Dwyer and debt finance partner Chris Brierley.

Duke Street director Julian Brock and investment associate Corinne Margerit worked with the Wragges team, while Hammonds partner Stephen Levy advised Affinity. Dwyer cited the instruction as a key mandate for its City private equity practice, which the firm launched two years ago.

"Some private equity houses are now looking to re-tender panels every two years in the same way the major corporates do," he said.

Duke Street has previously sent much of its corporate work to City buyout leader Clifford Chance, with Travers Smith deployed in a secondary role.

Wragges said the firm won the role because of its track record in the private healthcare sector, with the firm having acted for BUPA and the Duke Street-backed Paragon Healthcare.