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Fund Formation Lawyers

1,353 fund lawyers at 80 firms list fund formation work.

Everyone here is listed from their firm’s own bio page, and nobody pays to be listed or to rank. Last verified Oct 23–24, 2026. How we check

Partners
1,353
all at partner level
Firms
80
ranked by partners
Most partners
Kirkland & Ellis
226 listed here
Biggest city
New York
579 here

Fund formation attorneys

1,353 · 951–1000
  • ShareholderPolsinelli

    St. Louis, MOAlso fund formation, private credit funds

    • Leads with: Funds regulatory. The practice the firm’s bio leads with.
    • Since 2000. In practice since 2000, from the firm’s bio.
    • GP side. Acts for fund sponsors (GPs), as the firm’s bio says.
  • PartnerStradley Ronon Stevens & Young

    Chicago, ILPractices: Fund formation, Funds regulatory, Fund tax

  • PartnerHolland & Knight

    Houston, TXPractices: Fund formation, Private equity funds, Real estate funds + 1 more

    • GP side. Acts for fund sponsors (GPs), as the firm’s bio says.
  • PartnerCleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton

    Washington, D.C.Practices: Fund formation, Private equity funds, Venture funds + 4 more

    • Since 2014. In practice since 2014, from the firm’s bio.
  • PartnerMorgan, Lewis & Bockius

    San Francisco, CAAlso private equity funds, venture funds, infrastructure funds + 1 more

    • Leads with: Fund formation. The practice the firm’s bio leads with.
    • Since 1996. In practice since 1996, from the firm’s bio.
    • GP and LP side. Acts for both fund sponsors and investors, as the firm’s bio says.
  • PartnerKirkland & Ellis

    New York, NY

    • Leads with: Fund formation. The practice the firm’s bio leads with.
    • Since 2013. In practice since 2013, from the firm’s bio.
    • GP side. Acts for fund sponsors (GPs), as the firm’s bio says.
  • PartnerSeward & Kissel

    New York, NYAlso fund formation, hedge funds

    • Leads with: Funds regulatory. The practice the firm’s bio leads with.
    • Since 1986. In practice since 1986, from the firm’s bio.
    • GP side. Acts for fund sponsors (GPs), as the firm’s bio says.
  • PartnerKirkland & Ellis

    Chicago, ILAlso private equity funds

    • Leads with: Fund formation. The practice the firm’s bio leads with.
    • Since 2018. In practice since 2018, from the firm’s bio.
  • PartnerProskauer Rose

    Boston, MAAlso fund formation, private equity funds, venture funds + 1 more

    • Leads with: Fund tax. The practice the firm’s bio leads with.
    • GP and LP side. Acts for both fund sponsors and investors, as the firm’s bio says.
  • PartnerKatten Muchin Rosenman

    Chicago, ILAlso private equity funds, venture funds, real estate funds + 3 more

    • Leads with: Fund formation. The practice the firm’s bio leads with.
    • GP and LP side. Acts for both fund sponsors and investors, as the firm’s bio says.
  • PartnerSidley Austin

    New York, NYPractices: Fund formation, Private equity funds, Hedge funds + 1 more

    • Since 1983. In practice since 1983, from the firm’s bio.
    • GP side. Acts for fund sponsors (GPs), as the firm’s bio says.
  • PartnerDebevoise & Plimpton

    Washington, D.C.Also fund formation, private equity funds, private credit funds + 1 more

    • Leads with: Funds regulatory. The practice the firm’s bio leads with.
    • Since 1999. In practice since 1999, from the firm’s bio.
  • PartnerChapman and Cutler

    Chicago, ILAlso funds regulatory

    • Leads with: Fund formation. The practice the firm’s bio leads with.
    • Since 2015. In practice since 2015, from the firm’s bio.
  • ShareholderGreenberg Traurig

    Chicago, IL + 1 morePractices: Fund formation, Real estate funds

  • PartnerLatham & Watkins

    New York, NYAlso private credit funds, real estate funds, infrastructure funds + 1 more

    • Leads with: Fund formation. The practice the firm’s bio leads with.
    • GP side. Acts for fund sponsors (GPs), as the firm’s bio says.
  • PartnerDechert

    Philadelphia, PA + 1 morePractices: Fund formation, Private credit funds, Funds regulatory

    • Since 2010. In practice since 2010, from the firm’s bio.
    • GP side. Acts for fund sponsors (GPs), as the firm’s bio says.
  • ShareholderGreenberg Traurig

    Los Angeles, CAAlso fund formation, fund tax

    • Leads with: Real estate funds. The practice the firm’s bio leads with.
    • Since 1976. In practice since 1976, from the firm’s bio.
    • GP side. Acts for fund sponsors (GPs), as the firm’s bio says.
  • PartnerAkerman

    Los Angeles, CAPractices: Fund formation, Fund tax

    • Since 2002. In practice since 2002, from the firm’s bio.
  • PartnerWinston Taylor

    Chicago, ILAlso private equity funds, venture funds, private credit funds + 1 more

    • Leads with: Fund formation. The practice the firm’s bio leads with.
    • Since 2007. In practice since 2007, from the firm’s bio.
    • GP side. Acts for fund sponsors (GPs), as the firm’s bio says.
  • PartnerDebevoise & Plimpton

    New York, NYAlso fund formation, private equity funds, private credit funds + 1 more

    • Leads with: Fund tax. The practice the firm’s bio leads with.
    • Since 2010. In practice since 2010, from the firm’s bio.
  • MemberMintz

    New York, NYAlso private equity funds, venture funds, hedge funds + 2 more

    • Leads with: Fund formation. The practice the firm’s bio leads with.
    • GP and LP side. Acts for both fund sponsors and investors, as the firm’s bio says.
  • PartnerWinston Taylor

    New York, NYAlso venture funds, private credit funds, real estate funds + 3 more

    • Leads with: Fund formation. The practice the firm’s bio leads with.
    • Since 2016. In practice since 2016, from the firm’s bio.
    • GP side. Acts for fund sponsors (GPs), as the firm’s bio says.
  • PartnerLatham & Watkins

    New York, NYAlso venture funds, private credit funds, real estate funds + 2 more

    • Leads with: Fund formation. The practice the firm’s bio leads with.
    • Since 2002. In practice since 2002, from the firm’s bio.
    • GP and LP side. Acts for both fund sponsors and investors, as the firm’s bio says.
  • PartnerKirkland & Ellis

    New York, NYAlso fund formation

    • Leads with: Funds regulatory. The practice the firm’s bio leads with.
    • Since 2009. In practice since 2009, from the firm’s bio.
    • GP side. Acts for fund sponsors (GPs), as the firm’s bio says.
  • PartnerLatham & Watkins

    Chicago, ILPractices: Fund formation, Venture funds

    • Since 1988. In practice since 1988, from the firm’s bio.
  • PartnerK&L Gates

    Seattle, WAAlso fund formation, private equity funds, venture funds + 2 more

    • Leads with: Fund tax. The practice the firm’s bio leads with.
    • Since 1982. In practice since 1982, from the firm’s bio.
    • LP side. Acts for fund investors (LPs), as the firm’s bio says.
  • PartnerGunderson Dettmer

    New York, NYAlso fund formation, private equity funds

    • Leads with: Venture funds. The practice the firm’s bio leads with.
    • GP side. Acts for fund sponsors (GPs), as the firm’s bio says.
  • PartnerDebevoise & Plimpton

    New York, NYPractices: Fund formation

    • Since 2008. In practice since 2008, from the firm’s bio.
    • LP side. Acts for fund investors (LPs), as the firm’s bio says.
  • PartnerSidley Austin

    Chicago, ILAlso private equity funds, venture funds, private credit funds + 2 more

    • Leads with: Fund formation. The practice the firm’s bio leads with.
    • Since 2006. In practice since 2006, from the firm’s bio.
    • GP and LP side. Acts for both fund sponsors and investors, as the firm’s bio says.
  • PartnerLatham & Watkins

    New York, NYPractices: Fund formation, Venture funds, Hedge funds + 1 more

    • Since 1988. In practice since 1988, from the firm’s bio.
    • GP side. Acts for fund sponsors (GPs), as the firm’s bio says.
  • PartnerCooley

    New York, NYPractices: Fund formation, Private equity funds, Venture funds

    • GP side. Acts for fund sponsors (GPs), as the firm’s bio says.
  • PartnerKirkland & Ellis

    New York, NY

    • Leads with: Fund formation. The practice the firm’s bio leads with.
    • Since 2016. In practice since 2016, from the firm’s bio.
    • GP side. Acts for fund sponsors (GPs), as the firm’s bio says.
  • ShareholderPolsinelli

    Chicago, ILAlso private equity funds, venture funds, real estate funds + 2 more

    • Leads with: Fund formation. The practice the firm’s bio leads with.
    • Since 2007. In practice since 2007, from the firm’s bio.
    • GP and LP side. Acts for both fund sponsors and investors, as the firm’s bio says.
  • PartnerPaul Hastings

    San Francisco, CA + 1 moreAlso fund formation, private credit funds, real estate funds + 3 more

    • Leads with: Private equity funds. The practice the firm’s bio leads with.
    • Since 1999. In practice since 1999, from the firm’s bio.
    • GP side. Acts for fund sponsors (GPs), as the firm’s bio says.
  • PartnerMayer Brown

    Chicago, ILAlso fund formation, private equity funds, hedge funds

    • Leads with: Real estate funds. The practice the firm’s bio leads with.
    • LP side. Acts for fund investors (LPs), as the firm’s bio says.
  • PartnerKirkland & Ellis

    New York, NYAlso private equity funds, private credit funds, real estate funds + 1 more

    • Leads with: Fund formation. The practice the firm’s bio leads with.
    • Since 2017. In practice since 2017, from the firm’s bio.
    • GP side. Acts for fund sponsors (GPs), as the firm’s bio says.
  • PartnerLowenstein Sandler

    New York, NYAlso private equity funds, venture funds, hedge funds + 1 more

    • Leads with: Fund formation. The practice the firm’s bio leads with.
    • Since 1999. In practice since 1999, from the firm’s bio.
    • GP side. Acts for fund sponsors (GPs), as the firm’s bio says.
  • PartnerKirkland & Ellis

    Los Angeles, CAAlso private equity funds, venture funds, real estate funds + 1 more

    • Leads with: Fund formation. The practice the firm’s bio leads with.
    • Since 2013. In practice since 2013, from the firm’s bio.
    • GP side. Acts for fund sponsors (GPs), as the firm’s bio says.
  • PartnerTroutman Pepper Locke

    Philadelphia, PA + 1 moreAlso fund formation, venture funds, private credit funds + 1 more

    • Leads with: Funds regulatory. The practice the firm’s bio leads with.
    • Former SEC. Lists the SEC among past employers, on the firm’s bio.
  • PartnerDechert

    Washington, D.C.Also private credit funds, funds regulatory

    • Leads with: Fund formation. The practice the firm’s bio leads with.
  • PartnerTroutman Pepper Locke

    Atlanta, GAPractices: Fund formation, Venture funds, Real estate funds

    • Since 2014. In practice since 2014, from the firm’s bio.
  • PartnerGunderson Dettmer

    Los Angeles, CA + 1 moreAlso fund formation

    • Leads with: Venture funds. The practice the firm’s bio leads with.
    • GP side. Acts for fund sponsors (GPs), as the firm’s bio says.
  • PartnerMorgan, Lewis & Bockius

    Boston, MAAlso funds regulatory

    • Leads with: Fund formation. The practice the firm’s bio leads with.
    • Since 2000. In practice since 2000, from the firm’s bio.
    • GP side. Acts for fund sponsors (GPs), as the firm’s bio says.
  • ShareholderGreenberg Traurig

    New York, NYAlso private equity funds, private credit funds, real estate funds + 1 more

    • Leads with: Fund formation. The practice the firm’s bio leads with.
    • Since 2014. In practice since 2014, from the firm’s bio.
    • GP side. Acts for fund sponsors (GPs), as the firm’s bio says.
  • PartnerPillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman

    Miami, FL + 1 morePractices: Fund formation, Real estate funds

    • Since 2003. In practice since 2003, from the firm’s bio.
    • GP and LP side. Acts for both fund sponsors and investors, as the firm’s bio says.
  • PartnerAlston & Bird

    Charlotte, NCPractices: Fund formation, Private equity funds, Venture funds + 4 more

    • Since 2012. In practice since 2012, from the firm’s bio.
    • GP and LP side. Acts for both fund sponsors and investors, as the firm’s bio says.
  • PartnerGoodwin Procter

    Boston, MAPractices: Fund formation

    • Since 2015. In practice since 2015, from the firm’s bio.
    • GP side. Acts for fund sponsors (GPs), as the firm’s bio says.
  • PartnerCooley

    San Francisco, CAAlso private equity funds, venture funds

    • Leads with: Fund formation. The practice the firm’s bio leads with.
    • GP side. Acts for fund sponsors (GPs), as the firm’s bio says.
  • PartnerFaegre Drinker Biddle & Reath

    Minneapolis, MN + 1 morePractices: Fund formation, Secondaries

    • Since 2006. In practice since 2006, from the firm’s bio.
    • LP side. Acts for fund investors (LPs), as the firm’s bio says.
  • PartnerKirkland & Ellis

    New York, NYAlso private equity funds, real estate funds

    • Leads with: Fund formation. The practice the firm’s bio leads with.
    • Since 2020. In practice since 2020, from the firm’s bio.

Fund Formation Law Firms, by partners listed

  1. 1Kirkland & EllisNew York · Chicago · Washington, D.C. + 10 more226partners
  2. 2Proskauer RoseBoston · New York · Los Angeles + 1 more56partners
  3. 3Goodwin ProcterNew York · Boston · Washington, D.C. + 3 more53partners
  4. 4Sidley AustinNew York · Chicago · Boston + 4 more49partners
  5. 5McDermott Will & SchulteNew York · Chicago · Atlanta + 2 more44partners
  6. 6Morgan, Lewis & BockiusBoston · New York · Washington, D.C. + 6 more39partners
  7. 7Gunderson DettmerBoston · New York · San Francisco + 4 more36partners
  8. 8Greenberg TraurigNew York · Chicago · Los Angeles + 8 more31partners

Fund formation attorneys, by the numbers

Who has practised longest here?

By the first year in practice each firm’s bio gives; 859 of the 1,353 here give one.

  1. Jack S. LevinPartner · Kirkland & EllisSince 1958
  2. Myron KaplanPartner · Kleinberg Kaplan Wolff & CohenSince 1969
  3. Sanford C. PresantShareholder · Greenberg TraurigSince 1976
  4. Jeffrey D. UffnerPartner · Hogan Lovells CadwaladerSince 1976
  5. C. Brian WainwrightPartner · Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw PittmanSince 1976
All, by years in practice in the table

Who began practising most recently?

By the first year in practice each firm’s bio gives; 859 of the 1,353 here give one.

  1. Mike DankisPartner · LinklatersSince 2024
  2. Bryon James BoycePartner · Kirkland & EllisSince 2020
  3. Reed CarrollPartner · Kirkland & EllisSince 2020
  4. Sabrina ChartrandPartner · Kirkland & EllisSince 2020
  5. Jonathan M. HoffmanPartner · Kirkland & EllisSince 2020
All, newest first in the table

Who came from the SEC or another regulator?

34 here list a regulator among past employers on the firm’s bio. A to Z.

  1. David P. BartelsPartner · DechertFormer SEC
  2. Michael S. CaccesePartner · K&L GatesFormer SEC
  3. John P. CavanaghPartner · Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & GarrisonFormer SEC
  4. Norm ChampPartner · Kirkland & EllisFormer SEC
  5. Ezekiel CouchPartner · Kirkland & EllisFormer SEC

Who is named in our news?

Named in FundOpsHQ stories, the most recent story first.

  1. Justin W. SolomonPartner · Sidley Austin1 story, latest Oct 2026
  2. Barry M. WolfExecutive Partner · Weil, Gotshal & Manges3 stories, latest Oct 2026
  3. Reed W. BalmerPartner · Troutman Pepper Locke1 story, latest Oct 2026
  4. Ryan S. McNishPartner · Sidley Austin1 story, latest Oct 2026
  5. Leslie W. HungPartner · McDermott Will & Schulte1 story, latest Sep 2026

About this list

What fund formation lawyers do

Fund formation lawyers build a new fund: the structure (often a limited partnership with feeder and parallel vehicles), the limited partnership agreement, the private placement memorandum and the subscription documents. They then negotiate side letters with investors and run the closings until the fund is fully raised.

In sum

1,353 fund lawyers at 80 firms are listed on this page. The 5 with the most: Kirkland & Ellis (226), Proskauer Rose (56), Goodwin Procter (53), Sidley Austin (49) and McDermott Will & Schulte (44). The schools their bios name most: NYU (148), Harvard (124) and Georgetown (109). Of the 859 who give a first year in practice, half began in 2006 or before. 34 list a past post at the SEC or another regulator.

Questions

How many fund formation attorneys does FundOpsHQ list?

1,353 partners at 80 firms. Last checked Oct 23–24, 2026. Each one is at partner level, and their firm's own bio page names fund formation work.

Which fund formation law firms have the most partners listed?

Kirkland & Ellis (226), Proskauer Rose (56) and Goodwin Procter (53), counting the partners each firm's own website lists for fund formation work. All 80 firms, ranked

Where are fund formation attorneys based?

The cities with the most: New York (579), Chicago (177) and Washington, D.C. (121).

What else do these lawyers work on?

The practices they list most alongside fund formation work: private equity funds (710), funds regulatory (514) and private credit funds (453).

How does a fund lawyer get on this list?

By being a partner, principal, shareholder or member whose firm's own website lists them for this work. FundOpsHQ reads each firm's public bio pages and dates every check. Nobody pays to be listed or to rank, and anyone listed can claim, correct or remove their profile. How the directory works

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Listed here?

Claim your profile from its page to add to it, or ask for a correction or removal. It is free; the claim link goes to your work email at your firm’s domain.

How claiming works

Who is listed here comes from each firm’s own public bio page: the practices, clients and offices it names. Nobody pays to be listed or to rank. How the directory works