McDermott Will & Schulte

A team commended for its ‘exceptional private equity funds expertise and deep understanding of complex transactional matters’, Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP stands out for its work in the rapidly emerging area of litigation finance. Other funds include credit funds, special opportunity funds, real assets as well as new developments in the area such as hybrid funds which are focused on blockchain and cryptocurrencies. Jason Kaplan, Joseph Smith, and Stephanie Breslow in New York lead the group. Breslow’s client base encompasses some of most prominent asset management companies in the US, who often call upon her for regulatory assistance connected to fund launches. Smith has a broad practice and is increasingly involved in the group’s secondary transactions and continuation vehicle matters. Daniel Blumenthal is instrumental on the fund structuring and negotiating seed and strategic investments side. The New York team has been strengthened following the merger with McDermott Will & Emery: Lauren Nevidomsky and David Nestler are ’major experts in their fields of private equity fundraising’, and Nestler in particular has been a significant part of the group’s increasing activity for middle-market funds. Ian Schwartz has been instrumental in building the fund formation practice, often acting as go-to advisor for boutique sponsors and institutional investors which require complex strategies. Luc Jansen, who is renowned for his broad private equity client base, is another key name to note.