I feel the biggest issue was that there was a desperation for the sale which caused to the OP to agree to something out of their comfort zone and experience.
Once you do that, the advantage is for the acquiring company.
Presumably any private equity firm you'd want to work for would respect the fact that you were capable of getting a good deal for your founder client (and the implicit assumption that because they have additional evidence that you are a better lawyer who is also loyal to their clients that they are more likely to hire you)?
"...you'd want to work for..." This is a misleading framing. The private equity firm only wants to make the deal work financially and only for them. Anything else is secondary. You shouldn't be thinking about their respect, wanting to work for them, or anything beyond the deal terms.
Once you do that, the advantage is for the acquiring company.