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GP Stakes Lawyers

83 fund lawyers at 23 firms have bios that show a focus on GP stakes.

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
83
all at partner level
Firms
23
Most partners
Kirkland & Ellis
28 listed here
Biggest city
New York
47 here

Fund lawyers

83
Primary practicePrior firms
Stuart AlterMilbankPartnerNew York, NYFund formation, Private equity funds +6Fund tax–Fordham, NYU +1–
Dan ApplebaumKirkland & EllisPartnerChicago, ILFund formation, SecondariesFund formation12 yrsUniversity of, University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignAdams Street Partners, Sidley Austin
Joseph H. BaldwinKirkland & EllisPartnerChicago, ILFund formation, Private equity funds +2Fund formation11 yrsLoyola University, Saint Louis UniversityDLA Piper
Ivet BellFreshfieldsPartnerNew York, NYFund formation, Secondaries +1Fund formation–Harvard, Columbia–
Kevin BettstellerGibson DunnPartnerLos Angeles, CAFund formation, Private equity funds +7Funds regulatory20 yrsUniversity of Michigan–
Robert BlausteinKirkland & EllisPartnerNew York, NYFund formation, Private equity funds +6Fund formation21 yrsUniversity of Pennsylvania, Yale–
Kenneth S. BlazejewskiCleary Gottlieb Steen & HamiltonPartnerNew York, NYFund formation, Private equity funds +4Fund formation19 yrsNYU, Princeton–
Matthew BlockWillkie Farr & GallagherPartnerNew York, NYFund formation, Private equity funds +4Secondaries13 yrsNew York Law School, Rider University–
Mark BoyagiKirkland & EllisPartnerNew York, NYFund formation, Private credit funds +4Secondaries–University of New South Wales Faculty of Law, University of New South Wales–
William (Beau) BrasharesLatham & WatkinsPartnerNew York, NYFund formation, Private equity funds +5Fund formation26 yrsHarvard, UC Berkeley–
Christian BrauseSidley AustinPartnerNew York, NYFund formation, Private equity funds +2–25 yrsNYU, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz +1–
Walker BrierreHolland & KnightPartnerHouston, TXFund formation, Real estate funds +1––Tulane University, University of Texas–
Gerald H. Brown, Jr.DechertPartnerNew York, NYFund formation, Private equity funds +4Fund formation–Elizabethtown College, New York Law School–
Guillemette ChamayouKirkland & EllisPartnerNew York, NYFund formation, Private equity funds +3Fund formation14 yrsFordham, King's College London +2Macfarlanes, King & Wood Mallesons
Michael ChuKirkland & EllisPartnerChicago, ILFund formation, Private equity funds +4Funds regulatory20 yrsHarvardCredit Suisse First Boston
David ClineHusch BlackwellPartnerDenver, COFund formation, Venture funds +1Fund formation–University of Colorado, Loyola Marymount University–
Ed DartleyK&L GatesPartnerNew York, NYFund formation, Private equity funds +3Fund formation–Rutgers Law School, Rutgers University–
Yousuf I. DhameePaul HastingsPartnerLos Angeles, CAFund formation, Private equity funds +6Fund formation27 yrsNYU, Brown University–
Jonathan A. DhanawadeMayer BrownPartnerChicago, ILPrivate credit funds, Real estate funds +1––Northwestern, University of Delaware–
Daniel M. DiamondWinston TaylorPartnerCharlotte, NCFund formation, Private equity funds +5Fund formation12 yrsColumbia, Yale–
Eric M. DiamondSullivan & CromwellPartnerNew York, NYFund formation, Private equity funds +3–16 yrsNYU, YaleU.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Susan R. EisenbergKirkland & EllisPartnerHouston, TXFund formation, Private equity funds +5Fund formation19 yrsVanderbilt, University of PennsylvaniaKKR Credit, Ropes & Gray
Arash FarhadiehWillkie Farr & GallagherPartnerNew York, NYFund formation, Private equity funds +6Fund formation25 yrsLondon School of Economics and Political Science, University of New South Wales–
Elizabeth Shea FriesSidley AustinPartnerBoston, MAFund formation, Venture funds +8Fund formation37 yrsColumbia, Dartmouth College–
Christopher M. GandiaKirkland & EllisPartnerNew York, NYFund formation, Secondaries–13 yrsColumbia, Johns Hopkins University +1Willkie Farr & Gallagher, Skadden +1
Tarsis GoncalvesKirkland & EllisPartnerMiami, FL +1Fund formation, Venture funds +3Secondaries18 yrsNYU, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro +1Paul Hastings, Hogan Lovells +2
Ethan GreenKirkland & EllisPartnerWashington, D.C.Fund formation, Private equity funds +7Fund formation–George Washington University, University of North Carolina at Chapel HillGoodwin Procter, Cleary Gottlieb
Nicholas A. HemmingsenKirkland & EllisPartnerNew York, NYFund formation, Private equity funds +6Fund formation16 yrsUniversity of Michigan, Adrian CollegeK&L Gates
David S. HongWillkie Farr & GallagherPartnerLos Angeles, CAFund formation, Private equity funds +6Fund formation20 yrsBoston University, University of California, DavisMunger, Tolles & Olson
Michael S. HongDavis Polk & WardwellPartnerNew York, NYFund formation, Private equity funds +7Fund formation–University of Toronto Faculty of Law, University of +1Paul, Weiss
Matthew W. HowardKirkland & EllisPartnerWashington, D.C.Fund formation, Private equity funds +3Fund formation–NYU, Swarthmore CollegeFried Frank
Paul W. JeziernyWinston TaylorPartnerMiami, FLFund formation, SecondariesFund formation13 yrsUniversity of, Drexel University–
Shreyas JhaveriWillkie Farr & GallagherPartnerNew York, NYFund formation, Private equity funds +4Fund formation18 yrsNYU, Government Law College–
Tana Wilner de KellerKirkland & EllisPartnerNew York, NYFund formation, Venture funds +2–15 yrsColumbia, Interdisciplinary Center HerzliyaPretium Partners
Esther KimKirkland & EllisPartnerNew York, NYFund formation, SecondariesFund formation14 yrsNYU, BPP Law School +3Clifford Chance, Standard Chartered Bank
Kyung Woo KimWillkie Farr & GallagherPartnerNew York, NYFund formation, SecondariesFund formation16 yrsNYU, Georgetown–
Leonard KimGreenberg TraurigShareholderNew York, NYFund formation, Private equity funds +3Fund finance–Northwestern, Purdue University–
Thomas J. LaFondGoodwin ProcterPartnerBoston, MAFund formation, Funds regulatory–32 yrsStanford, Harvard–
Daniel Lavon-KreinKirkland & EllisPartnerNew York, NYFund formation, Private equity funds +4Fund formation23 yrsMcGill University Faculty of Law, University of TorontoTesta, Hurwitz & Thibeault, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
Philip LenertzProskauer RosePartnerBoston, MAFund formation, Private equity funds +5Fund tax–Harvard, California State University, Fullerton–
Ken LiSullivan & CromwellPartnerNew York, NYFund formation, Private equity funds +1–13 yrsColumbia, Harvard–
Scott MacdonaldSidley AustinPartnerNew York, NYFund formation, Private equity funds +4Fund formation23 yrsAmerican University, Trinity College–
James ManzioneGibson DunnPartnerNew York, NYFund formation, Private equity funds +3Fund tax10 yrsNYU, University of Michigan–
Larissa R. MarcellinoWillkie Farr & GallagherPartnerNew York, NYFund formation, Private equity funds +3Fund formation15 yrsMcGill UniversityAquiline Capital Partners
Cynthia A. MarianMayer BrownPartnerNew York, NYFund formation, Private equity funds +7Fund formation18 yrsNYU, University of Chicago +1–
Nathaniel MarrsWillkie Farr & GallagherPartnerChicago, ILFund formation, Private credit funds +3Fund formation30 yrsUniversity of Chicago, University of Michigan–
Daniel L. McAvoyPolsinelliShareholderNew York, NY +1Fund formation, Venture funds +2Fund formation23 yrsNYU, University of South Florida–
Ted McBridePaul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & GarrisonPartnerLos Angeles, CA +1Fund formation, Private equity funds +4Fund formation–Brooklyn Law School, Hamilton College–
Todd MelchiorKirkland & EllisPartnerSan Francisco, CASecondaries–13 yrsOsgoode Hall Law School, York UniversityDentons, Royal Bank of Canada +1
Daniel MencaroniGoodwin ProcterPartnerNew York, NYFund formation, Private equity funds +1Fund formation23 yrsNYU, Università degli Studi di FirenzeWillkie Farr & Gallagher, BlackRock

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.

Private Fund Law Firms, by partners listed

Fund lawyers, by the numbers

Who has practised longest here?

By the first year in practice each firm’s bio gives; 64 of the 83 here give one.

  1. Elizabeth Shea FriesPartner · Sidley AustinSince 1989
  2. Thomas J. LaFondPartner · Goodwin ProcterSince 1994
  3. Nathaniel MarrsPartner · Willkie Farr & GallagherSince 1996
  4. Nadia SagerPartner · Latham & WatkinsSince 1996
  5. A. Kelly RyanPartner · Kirkland & EllisSince 1998
All, by years in practice in the table

Who began practising most recently?

By the first year in practice each firm’s bio gives; 64 of the 83 here give one.

  1. Max ReibmanPartner · Kirkland & EllisSince 2020
  2. Joshua MorganPartner · Kirkland & EllisSince 2018
  3. Michael L. RamseyPartner · Kirkland & EllisSince 2017
  4. Jasmina H. ResicPartner · Kirkland & EllisSince 2017
  5. James ManzionePartner · Gibson DunnSince 2016
All, newest first in the table

Who came from the SEC or another regulator?

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

  1. Eric M. DiamondPartner · Sullivan & CromwellFormer SEC
  2. Christopher M. GandiaPartner · Kirkland & EllisFormer Federal Reserve
  3. Nathan R. SchuurPartner · Proskauer RoseFormer SEC

Who is named in our news?

Named in FundOpsHQ stories, the most recent story first.

  1. Stuart AlterPartner · Milbank1 story, latest Jul 2026
  2. Amanda PersaudPartner · Paul Hastings1 story, latest Apr 2026
  3. Cynthia A. MarianPartner · Mayer Brown1 story, latest Jan 2026

About this list

What GP stakes work is

Minority equity investments in fund managers themselves (a share of fees and carry), for the buyer or the selling sponsor.

In sum

83 fund lawyers at 23 firms are listed on this page. The 5 with the most: Kirkland & Ellis (28), Willkie Farr & Gallagher (9), Sidley Austin (6), Paul Hastings (5) and Latham & Watkins (4). The schools their bios name most: NYU (17), Columbia (10) and Northwestern (7). Of the 64 who give a first year in practice, half began in 2010 or before. 3 list a past post at the SEC or another regulator.

Questions

How many fund lawyers does FundOpsHQ list?

83 partners at 23 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 stakes (the quote is on each profile).

Which private fund law firms have the most partners listed?

Kirkland & Ellis (28), Willkie Farr & Gallagher (9) and Sidley Austin (6), counting the partners each firm's own website lists.

Where are fund lawyers based?

The cities with the most: New York (47), Chicago (16) and Los Angeles (6).

What else do these lawyers work on?

The practices they list most: fund formation (77), secondaries (72) and private credit funds (48).

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