GP-Led Continuation Fund Lawyers

235 fund lawyers at 39 firms have bios that show a focus on GP-led continuation funds.

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: 235; all at partner level
Firms: 39
Most partners: Kirkland & Ellis; 55 listed here
Biggest city: New York; 145 here

Fund lawyers

235 · 201–235

Chair, head or managing partner1
Partner or principal234

Under 10 years17
10 to 20 years78
20 years or more55

GPs and Sponsors197
LPs and Investors97

Named in our news8

Counting everyone…

					Primary practice			Prior firms
Jonathan Adler	Debevoise & Plimpton	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Venture funds +6	–	21 yrs	NYU, Cornell	–
Andrew M. Ahern	Davis Polk & Wardwell	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Private equity funds +5	Fund formation	–	Columbia, Bucknell University	Debevoise & Plimpton
Michael F.E. Akkawi	Mintz	Partner	Boston, MA	Fund formation, Private equity funds +2	–	–	McGill University	–
Stuart Alter	Milbank	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Private equity funds +6	Fund tax	–	Fordham, NYU +1	–
Prem Amarnani	McDermott Will & Schulte	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Secondaries +1	Fund formation	–	Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Stevens Institute of Technology	–
Juliet Anderson	Kirkland & Ellis	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Infrastructure funds +2	Fund formation	15 yrs	Fordham, University of Law +2	–
Stephanie M. Annunziata	Proskauer Rose	Partner	Los Angeles, CA	Fund formation, Private equity funds +5	Private equity funds	–	Columbia, University of Rhode Island	–
Alexander Argyris	Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Venture funds +2	Fund formation	14 yrs	Cornell, Osgoode Hall Law School +1	–
Saba Ashraf	Troutman Pepper Locke	Partner	Philadelphia, PA	Fund formation, Private equity funds +5	Fund tax	36 yrs	NYU, Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University	–
Cory E. Baird	Kirkland & Ellis	Partner	Chicago, IL	Fund formation, Private equity funds +2	Private equity funds	–	Harvard, University of Michigan	Brookfield Financial, Greenhill
Joseph H. Baldwin	Kirkland & Ellis	Partner	Chicago, IL	Fund formation, Private equity funds +2	Fund formation	11 yrs	Loyola University, Saint Louis University	DLA Piper
Stephen B. Ballas	Sidley Austin	Partner	Los Angeles, CA	Fund formation, Private credit funds +2	–	–	Georgetown, Duke	–
Joseph R. Baron	Kirkland & Ellis	Partner	Houston, TX	Fund formation, Private equity funds +2	Private equity funds	9 yrs	University of, University of Connecticut	Goodwin Procter
Kylie N. Barza	Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Private equity funds +1	–	11 yrs	NYU, Molloy University	–
Howard J. Beber	Proskauer Rose	Partner	Boston, MA	Fund formation, Private equity funds +3	Fund formation	–	Boston College, Washington University in St. Louis	–
John A. Beck	Proskauer Rose	Partner	Boston, MA	Fund formation, Private equity funds +5	Fund formation	10 yrs	Harvard, University of Connecticut	–
Ivet Bell	Freshfields	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Secondaries +1	Fund formation	–	Harvard, Columbia	–
Luke Bell	Mayer Brown	Partner	Salt Lake City, UT	Fund formation, Private equity funds +6	Fund formation	–	Brigham Young University	–
Erin Bergey	Latham & Watkins	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Private equity funds +1	Fund formation	11 yrs	Duke, College of William & Mary	–
Kevin Bettsteller	Gibson Dunn	Partner	Los Angeles, CA	Fund formation, Private equity funds +7	Funds regulatory	20 yrs	University of Michigan	–
Michael Black	Cooley	Partner	Chicago, IL	Fund formation, Private equity funds +3	Fund formation	–	–	–
Robert Blaustein	Kirkland & Ellis	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Private equity funds +6	Fund formation	21 yrs	University of Pennsylvania, Yale	–
Kenneth S. Blazejewski	Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Private equity funds +4	Fund formation	19 yrs	NYU, Princeton	–
Michael Bolotin	Debevoise & Plimpton	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Private equity funds +5	–	–	–	–
Ezra Borut	Debevoise & Plimpton	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Private credit funds +1	–	30 yrs	University of Chicago, Yale	–
Mark Boyagi	Kirkland & Ellis	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Private credit funds +4	Secondaries	–	University of New South Wales Faculty of Law, University of New South Wales	–
Bryon James Boyce	Kirkland & Ellis	Partner	Austin, TX	Fund formation, Private credit funds +2	Fund formation	6 yrs	University of Southern, UCLA	Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
Brad M. Brown	Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Private equity funds +2	Fund formation	–	Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, University of Michigan	3G Capital
Gerald H. Brown, Jr.	Dechert	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Private equity funds +4	Fund formation	–	Elizabethtown College, New York Law School	–
Susan Burkhardt	Kirkland & Ellis	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Private credit funds +2	Fund formation	–	University of Virginia, University of Notre Dame	Clifford Chance, Apollo Global Management +2
Amanda Butler-Jones	Proskauer Rose	Partner	Washington, D.C.	Fund formation, Private equity funds +3	Secondaries	–	Howard University, University of Massachusetts Amherst	–
Bryan P. Bylica	Bass, Berry & Sims	Member	Chicago, IL +1	Fund formation, Private equity funds +7	Fund formation	17 yrs	Loyola University, Loyola University Chicago +1	McGuireWoods
Sijia Cai	Davis Polk & Wardwell	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Private equity funds +5	Fund formation	–	Harvard, Yale	–
Francisco J. Cardona	Kirkland & Ellis	Partner	Washington, D.C.	Fund formation, Private credit funds +1	Secondaries	–	Georgetown, University of +1	–
Ryan M. Carpenter	Proskauer Rose	Partner	Boston, MA	Fund formation, Private equity funds +4	Private equity funds	–	University of, Princeton	–
Nick Carreri	Kirkland & Ellis	Partner	Chicago, IL	Fund formation, Private equity funds +1	Fund formation	14 yrs	University of Michigan, Grand Valley State University	Chapman and Cutler
Nicholas C. Cassin	Sidley Austin	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Private equity funds +4	Secondaries	19 yrs	London School of Economics and Political Science	–
Lana Castor	Weil, Gotshal & Manges	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Private equity funds +2	Fund formation	13 yrs	Georgetown, University of Michigan	–
Sabrina Chartrand	Kirkland & Ellis	Partner	Boston, MA	Fund formation, Private equity funds +5	Fund formation	6 yrs	Boston University, Suffolk University	Morgan Lewis
Matthew J. Chase	Latham & Watkins	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Private equity funds +4	Fund formation	21 yrs	St. John's University, Georgetown	–
Eunice E. Choi	Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman	Partner	San Francisco, CA +1	Fund formation, Venture funds +2	Fund formation	–	Georgetown, Yale	Goodwin Procter, Cooley +2
Luca Del Ciotto	Goodwin Procter	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Private equity funds +2	Secondaries	10 yrs	Melbourne Law School, University of Melbourne	Kirkland & Ellis, Gilbert + Tobin
Erin Cleary	Debevoise & Plimpton	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Venture funds +4	Fund tax	18 yrs	Rutgers Law School, Rutgers University	–
John D. Cleaver	Morgan, Lewis & Bockius	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Hedge funds +1	Fund formation	14 yrs	Brooklyn Law School, Swarthmore College	–
Matthew Cognetti	Goodwin Procter	Partner	New York, NY	Secondaries	–	12 yrs	Georgetown	–
Matthew Cohen	Kirkland & Ellis	Partner	San Francisco, CA +1	Fund formation, Private equity funds +5	Funds regulatory	18 yrs	Pepperdine Caruso School of Law, University of California, Santa Barbara	K&L Gates
Benjamin P. Collins-Wood	Debevoise & Plimpton	Partner	New York, NY	Secondaries	–	13 yrs	Duke, University of Washington	–
Jacob Comer	Seward & Kissel	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Venture funds +2	Fund formation	23 yrs	Washington and Lee University, Marshall University	–
Daniel Cowan	Mintz	Member	Boston, MA	Fund formation, Private equity funds +1	–	–	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	–
Elise Crichton	Kirkland & Ellis	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Secondaries	Fund formation	10 yrs	University of Adelaide	Proskauer, Clifford Chance +1

Arrow keys move through the list, Enter opens a person, S saves them to your shortlist, Escape closes. Facts from each firm’s public bio page; nobody pays to be listed.

Maury Slevin
PartnerPaul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison
New York, NYAlso private equity funds, private credit funds, hedge funds + 1 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.
Giovanni L. Smedley
PartnerWillkie Farr & Gallagher
New York, NYAlso venture funds, secondaries
- Leads with: Fund formation. The practice the firm’s bio leads with.
- Since 2013. In practice since 2013, from the firm’s bio.
- GP and LP side. Acts for both fund sponsors and investors, as the firm’s bio says.
Joseph A. Smith
PartnerMcDermott Will & Schulte
New York, NYAlso private equity funds, venture funds, private credit funds + 4 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.
Joe Soltis
PartnerFreshfields
New York, NYPractices: Private equity funds, Secondaries, Fund tax
- LP side. Acts for fund investors (LPs), as the firm’s bio says.
Edward Sopher
PartnerGibson Dunn
New York, NYAlso private equity funds, private credit 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.
Louis Sorgi
PartnerProskauer Rose
Boston, MAAlso private equity funds, secondaries
- 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.
Michael A. Stenbring
PartnerDavis Polk & Wardwell
New York, NYAlso private equity funds, private credit 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.
Justin Storms
PartnerDebevoise & Plimpton
New York, NYPractices: Fund formation, Private equity funds, Infrastructure funds + 1 more
- Since 2003. In practice since 2003, from the firm’s bio.
- GP side. Acts for fund sponsors (GPs), as the firm’s bio says.
David H. Stults
PartnerKirkland & Ellis
Chicago, ILAlso private equity funds, private credit funds, real estate funds + 1 more
- Leads with: Fund formation. The practice the firm’s bio leads with.
- Since 2011. In practice since 2011, from the firm’s bio.
- GP side. Acts for fund sponsors (GPs), as the firm’s bio says.
Michael R. Suppappola
PartnerProskauer Rose
Boston, MAAlso fund formation, private equity funds, venture funds + 3 more
- Leads with: Secondaries. The practice the firm’s bio leads with.
- GP side. Acts for fund sponsors (GPs), as the firm’s bio says.
Robert H. Sutton
PartnerProskauer Rose
New York, NYAlso fund formation, private equity funds, private credit funds + 4 more
- Leads with: Funds regulatory. The practice the firm’s bio leads with.
- GP side. Acts for fund sponsors (GPs), as the firm’s bio says.
Jonathan Temps
ShareholderGreenberg Traurig
Chicago, ILAlso real estate funds, secondaries, fund tax
- Leads with: Fund formation. The practice the firm’s bio leads with.
- Since 1999. In practice since 1999, from the firm’s bio.
- GP and LP side. Acts for both fund sponsors and investors, as the firm’s bio says.
- In our news. Named in 1 story in FundOpsHQ news.
Ramya S. Tiller
PartnerDebevoise & Plimpton
New York, NYAlso private equity funds, private credit funds
- Leads with: Fund finance. The practice the firm’s bio leads with.
- Since 2002. In practice since 2002, from the firm’s bio.
Kate Timmerman
PartnerGibson Dunn
New York, NYPractices: Fund formation, Private equity funds, Private credit funds + 3 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.
Stephen C. Tirrell
PartnerMorgan, Lewis & Bockius
Boston, MAAlso private equity funds, venture funds, real estate funds + 4 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 and LP side. Acts for both fund sponsors and investors, as the firm’s bio says.
Sergio Torres
PartnerDebevoise & Plimpton
New York, NYPractices: Secondaries
- Since 2016. In practice since 2016, from the firm’s bio.
Walter Turturro
PartnerWillkie Farr & Gallagher
New York, NYAlso private equity funds, venture funds, private credit funds + 5 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.
Bradley C. Vaiana
PartnerWinston Taylor
New York, NYPractices: Fund formation, Private credit funds, Real estate funds + 1 more
- Since 2000. In practice since 2000, from the firm’s bio.
- GP side. Acts for fund sponsors (GPs), as the firm’s bio says.
Patrick Valenti
PartnerWinston Taylor
Chicago, ILAlso private equity funds, secondaries
- Leads with: Fund formation. The practice the firm’s bio leads with.
- Since 2015. In practice since 2015, from the firm’s bio.
- GP side. Acts for fund sponsors (GPs), as the firm’s bio says.
Patrick J. Vinett
PartnerKirkland & Ellis
New York, NYAlso fund formation, private credit funds, infrastructure funds
- Leads with: Secondaries. The practice the firm’s bio leads with.
- Since 2017. In practice since 2017, from the firm’s bio.
- GP and LP side. Acts for both fund sponsors and investors, as the firm’s bio says.
Jamie Lynn Walter
PartnerLatham & Watkins
Washington, D.C.Also fund formation, secondaries
- 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.
Nicole Washington
PartnerKirkland & Ellis
Washington, D.C. + 1 moreAlso private equity funds, private credit funds, real estate 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.
Paul Watt
PartnerKirkland & Ellis
San Francisco, CA + 1 morePractices: Fund formation, Venture funds, Private credit funds + 2 more
- GP side. Acts for fund sponsors (GPs), as the firm’s bio says.
Alisa A. Waxman
PartnerDavis Polk & Wardwell
New York, NYAlso private equity funds, venture funds, private credit funds + 2 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.
Samuel Weber
PartnerWillkie Farr & Gallagher
New York, NYAlso private equity funds, venture funds, private credit funds + 2 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.
Semhar Woldai
PartnerKirkland & Ellis
New York, NYAlso fund formation, private equity funds, venture funds
- Leads with: Secondaries. The practice the firm’s bio leads with.
- Since 2015. In practice since 2015, from the firm’s bio.
- GP side. Acts for fund sponsors (GPs), as the firm’s bio says.
Andrew Wright
PartnerKirkland & Ellis
New York, NYAlso private equity funds, venture funds, private credit funds + 6 more
- Leads with: Fund formation. The practice the firm’s bio leads with.
- Since 1999. In practice since 1999, from the firm’s bio.
Heather N. Wyckoff
PartnerAlston & Bird
New York, NYPractices: Venture funds, Private credit funds, Hedge funds + 2 more
- Since 2005. In practice since 2005, from the firm’s bio.
- GP and LP side. Acts for both fund sponsors and investors, as the firm’s bio says.
Matthew P. Wynne
PartnerLatham & Watkins
Chicago, IL + 1 moreAlso private equity funds, venture funds, private credit 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 and LP side. Acts for both fund sponsors and investors, as the firm’s bio says.
Ray Xu
PartnerKirkland & Ellis
New York, NYAlso secondaries
- 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.
Steve Y. Yoo
PartnerPaul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison
Los Angeles, CAAlso secondaries
- 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.
Joseph D. Zargari
PartnerMorgan, Lewis & Bockius
New York, NYAlso private equity funds, venture funds, private credit funds + 5 more
- Leads with: Fund formation. The practice the firm’s bio leads with.
- Since 2005. In practice since 2005, from the firm’s bio.
- GP and LP side. Acts for both fund sponsors and investors, as the firm’s bio says.
Richard S. Zarin
PartnerMorgan, Lewis & Bockius
New York, NYAlso fund formation, private equity funds, venture funds + 2 more
- Leads with: Fund tax. The practice the firm’s bio leads with.
- Since 1985. In practice since 1985, from the firm’s bio.
- GP and LP side. Acts for both fund sponsors and investors, as the firm’s bio says.
Alexandria Zeizel
PartnerProskauer Rose
New York, NYAlso private equity funds, venture funds, private credit 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.
Xin Florence Zhang
PartnerCleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton
New York, NYAlso secondaries
- Leads with: Fund formation. The practice the firm’s bio leads with.
- Since 2010. In practice since 2010, from the firm’s bio.
- GP side. Acts for fund sponsors (GPs), as the firm’s bio says.

Private Fund Law Firms, by partners listed

Kirkland & EllisNew York · Chicago · San Francisco + 8 more55partners
Proskauer RoseBoston · New York · Los Angeles + 1 more22partners
Debevoise & PlimptonNew York · Washington, D.C.15partners
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & HamiltonNew York · Washington, D.C.12partners
Sidley AustinChicago · New York · Boston + 2 more12partners
Latham & WatkinsNew York · Chicago · Houston + 2 more10partners
Willkie Farr & GallagherNew York · Los Angeles10partners
Davis Polk & WardwellNew York · Washington, D.C.8partners

Fund lawyers, by the numbers

Who has practised longest here?

By the first year in practice each firm’s bio gives; 150 of the 235 here give one.

Richard S. ZarinPartner · Morgan, Lewis & BockiusSince 1985
Saba AshrafPartner · Troutman Pepper LockeSince 1990
Phillip IsomPartner · Willkie Farr & GallagherSince 1991
Kevin M. SchmidtPartner · Debevoise & PlimptonSince 1994
Ezra BorutPartner · Debevoise & PlimptonSince 1996

All, by years in practice in the table

Who began practising most recently?

By the first year in practice each firm’s bio gives; 150 of the 235 here give one.

Mike DankisPartner · LinklatersSince 2024
Bryon James BoycePartner · Kirkland & EllisSince 2020
Sabrina ChartrandPartner · Kirkland & EllisSince 2020
Matt NabavianPartner · Kirkland & EllisSince 2020
Nathan Eric HowePartner · Kirkland & EllisSince 2019

All, newest first in the table

Who came from the SEC or another regulator?

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

Christopher M. GandiaPartner · Kirkland & EllisFormer Federal Reserve
Robert W. Pommer IIIPartner · Proskauer RoseFormer SEC
Nathan R. SchuurPartner · Proskauer RoseFormer SEC
Jamie Lynn WalterPartner · Latham & WatkinsFormer SEC

Who is named in our news?

Named in FundOpsHQ stories, the most recent story first.

Ryan S. McNishPartner · Sidley Austin1 story, latest Oct 2026
Michael BlackPartner · Cooley1 story, latest Sep 2026
Sheldon Hunt LaingShareholder · Greenberg Traurig1 story, latest Aug 2026
Stuart AlterPartner · Milbank1 story, latest Jul 2026
David J. GreenePartner · Weil, Gotshal & Manges1 story, latest Feb 2026

About this list

What GP-led continuation funds work is

GP-led secondaries: a sponsor moves one or more portfolio companies into a new continuation vehicle, giving existing investors the choice to sell or roll.

In sum

235 fund lawyers at 39 firms are listed on this page. The 5 with the most: Kirkland & Ellis (55), Proskauer Rose (22), Debevoise & Plimpton (15), Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton (12) and Sidley Austin (12). The schools their bios name most: NYU (36), Columbia (21) and Harvard (19). Of the 150 who give a first year in practice, half began in 2010 or before. 4 list a past post at the SEC or another regulator.

Questions

How many fund lawyers does FundOpsHQ list?

235 partners at 39 firms. Last checked Oct 23–24, 2026. Each one is at partner level, and their firm's own bio page describes their work on GP-led continuation funds (the quote is on each profile).

Which private fund law firms have the most partners listed?

Kirkland & Ellis (55), Proskauer Rose (22) and Debevoise & Plimpton (15), counting the partners each firm's own website lists.

Where are fund lawyers based?

The cities with the most: New York (145), Chicago (31) and Boston (18).

What else do these lawyers work on?

The practices they list most: fund formation (214), secondaries (214) and private equity funds (144).

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