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 · 51–83

Under 10 years4
10 to 20 years39
20 years or more21

GPs and Sponsors70
LPs and Investors32

Named in our news3

Counting everyone…

					Primary practice			Prior firms
Stuart Alter	Milbank	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Private equity funds +6	Fund tax	–	Fordham, NYU +1	–
Dan Applebaum	Kirkland & Ellis	Partner	Chicago, IL	Fund formation, Secondaries	Fund formation	12 yrs	University of, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign	Adams Street Partners, Sidley Austin
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
Ivet Bell	Freshfields	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Secondaries +1	Fund formation	–	Harvard, Columbia	–
Kevin Bettsteller	Gibson Dunn	Partner	Los Angeles, CA	Fund formation, Private equity funds +7	Funds regulatory	20 yrs	University of Michigan	–
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	–
Matthew Block	Willkie Farr & Gallagher	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Private equity funds +4	Secondaries	13 yrs	New York Law School, Rider University	–
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	–
William (Beau) Brashares	Latham & Watkins	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Private equity funds +5	Fund formation	26 yrs	Harvard, UC Berkeley	–
Christian Brause	Sidley Austin	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Private equity funds +2	–	25 yrs	NYU, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz +1	–
Walker Brierre	Holland & Knight	Partner	Houston, TX	Fund formation, Real estate funds +1	–	–	Tulane University, University of Texas	–
Gerald H. Brown, Jr.	Dechert	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Private equity funds +4	Fund formation	–	Elizabethtown College, New York Law School	–
Guillemette Chamayou	Kirkland & Ellis	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Private equity funds +3	Fund formation	14 yrs	Fordham, King's College London +2	Macfarlanes, King & Wood Mallesons
Michael Chu	Kirkland & Ellis	Partner	Chicago, IL	Fund formation, Private equity funds +4	Funds regulatory	20 yrs	Harvard	Credit Suisse First Boston
David Cline	Husch Blackwell	Partner	Denver, CO	Fund formation, Venture funds +1	Fund formation	–	University of Colorado, Loyola Marymount University	–
Ed Dartley	K&L Gates	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Private equity funds +3	Fund formation	–	Rutgers Law School, Rutgers University	–
Yousuf I. Dhamee	Paul Hastings	Partner	Los Angeles, CA	Fund formation, Private equity funds +6	Fund formation	27 yrs	NYU, Brown University	–
Jonathan A. Dhanawade	Mayer Brown	Partner	Chicago, IL	Private credit funds, Real estate funds +1	–	–	Northwestern, University of Delaware	–
Daniel M. Diamond	Winston Taylor	Partner	Charlotte, NC	Fund formation, Private equity funds +5	Fund formation	12 yrs	Columbia, Yale	–
Eric M. Diamond	Sullivan & Cromwell	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Private equity funds +3	–	16 yrs	NYU, Yale	U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Susan R. Eisenberg	Kirkland & Ellis	Partner	Houston, TX	Fund formation, Private equity funds +5	Fund formation	19 yrs	Vanderbilt, University of Pennsylvania	KKR Credit, Ropes & Gray
Arash Farhadieh	Willkie Farr & Gallagher	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Private equity funds +6	Fund formation	25 yrs	London School of Economics and Political Science, University of New South Wales	–
Elizabeth Shea Fries	Sidley Austin	Partner	Boston, MA	Fund formation, Venture funds +8	Fund formation	37 yrs	Columbia, Dartmouth College	–
Christopher M. Gandia	Kirkland & Ellis	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Secondaries	–	13 yrs	Columbia, Johns Hopkins University +1	Willkie Farr & Gallagher, Skadden +1
Tarsis Goncalves	Kirkland & Ellis	Partner	Miami, FL +1	Fund formation, Venture funds +3	Secondaries	18 yrs	NYU, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro +1	Paul Hastings, Hogan Lovells +2
Ethan Green	Kirkland & Ellis	Partner	Washington, D.C.	Fund formation, Private equity funds +7	Fund formation	–	George Washington University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	Goodwin Procter, Cleary Gottlieb
Nicholas A. Hemmingsen	Kirkland & Ellis	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Private equity funds +6	Fund formation	16 yrs	University of Michigan, Adrian College	K&L Gates
David S. Hong	Willkie Farr & Gallagher	Partner	Los Angeles, CA	Fund formation, Private equity funds +6	Fund formation	20 yrs	Boston University, University of California, Davis	Munger, Tolles & Olson
Michael S. Hong	Davis Polk & Wardwell	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Private equity funds +7	Fund formation	–	University of Toronto Faculty of Law, University of +1	Paul, Weiss
Matthew W. Howard	Kirkland & Ellis	Partner	Washington, D.C.	Fund formation, Private equity funds +3	Fund formation	–	NYU, Swarthmore College	Fried Frank
Paul W. Jezierny	Winston Taylor	Partner	Miami, FL	Fund formation, Secondaries	Fund formation	13 yrs	University of, Drexel University	–
Shreyas Jhaveri	Willkie Farr & Gallagher	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Private equity funds +4	Fund formation	18 yrs	NYU, Government Law College	–
Tana Wilner de Keller	Kirkland & Ellis	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Venture funds +2	–	15 yrs	Columbia, Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya	Pretium Partners
Esther Kim	Kirkland & Ellis	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Secondaries	Fund formation	14 yrs	NYU, BPP Law School +3	Clifford Chance, Standard Chartered Bank
Kyung Woo Kim	Willkie Farr & Gallagher	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Secondaries	Fund formation	16 yrs	NYU, Georgetown	–
Leonard Kim	Greenberg Traurig	Shareholder	New York, NY	Fund formation, Private equity funds +3	Fund finance	–	Northwestern, Purdue University	–
Thomas J. LaFond	Goodwin Procter	Partner	Boston, MA	Fund formation, Funds regulatory	–	32 yrs	Stanford, Harvard	–
Daniel Lavon-Krein	Kirkland & Ellis	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Private equity funds +4	Fund formation	23 yrs	McGill University Faculty of Law, University of Toronto	Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
Philip Lenertz	Proskauer Rose	Partner	Boston, MA	Fund formation, Private equity funds +5	Fund tax	–	Harvard, California State University, Fullerton	–
Ken Li	Sullivan & Cromwell	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Private equity funds +1	–	13 yrs	Columbia, Harvard	–
Scott Macdonald	Sidley Austin	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Private equity funds +4	Fund formation	23 yrs	American University, Trinity College	–
James Manzione	Gibson Dunn	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Private equity funds +3	Fund tax	10 yrs	NYU, University of Michigan	–
Larissa R. Marcellino	Willkie Farr & Gallagher	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Private equity funds +3	Fund formation	15 yrs	McGill University	Aquiline Capital Partners
Cynthia A. Marian	Mayer Brown	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Private equity funds +7	Fund formation	18 yrs	NYU, University of Chicago +1	–
Nathaniel Marrs	Willkie Farr & Gallagher	Partner	Chicago, IL	Fund formation, Private credit funds +3	Fund formation	30 yrs	University of Chicago, University of Michigan	–
Daniel L. McAvoy	Polsinelli	Shareholder	New York, NY +1	Fund formation, Venture funds +2	Fund formation	23 yrs	NYU, University of South Florida	–
Ted McBride	Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison	Partner	Los Angeles, CA +1	Fund formation, Private equity funds +4	Fund formation	–	Brooklyn Law School, Hamilton College	–
Todd Melchior	Kirkland & Ellis	Partner	San Francisco, CA	Secondaries	–	13 yrs	Osgoode Hall Law School, York University	Dentons, Royal Bank of Canada +1
Daniel Mencaroni	Goodwin Procter	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Private equity funds +1	Fund formation	23 yrs	NYU, Università degli Studi di Firenze	Willkie 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.

David R. Moore
PartnerLatham & Watkins
Chicago, IL + 1 moreAlso private credit funds, real estate funds, infrastructure funds + 1 more
- Leads with: Fund formation. The practice the firm’s bio leads with.
- Since 2015. In practice since 2015, from the firm’s bio.
- GP and LP side. Acts for both fund sponsors and investors, as the firm’s bio says.
Joshua Morgan
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.
- GP side. Acts for fund sponsors (GPs), as the firm’s bio says.
Eve Mrozek
PartnerGibson Dunn
New York, NYAlso fund formation, real estate funds, secondaries
- Leads with: Private equity funds. 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.
John M. Muno
PartnerSidley Austin
Chicago, ILAlso private equity funds, secondaries
- Leads with: Fund formation. The practice the firm’s bio leads with.
- Since 2004. In practice since 2004, from the firm’s bio.
- GP side. Acts for fund sponsors (GPs), as the firm’s bio says.
Stefan Paulovic
PartnerProskauer Rose
New York, NYPractices: Fund formation, Private equity funds, Secondaries
- GP side. Acts for fund sponsors (GPs), as the firm’s bio says.
Amanda Persaud
PartnerPaul Hastings
New York, NYAlso private equity funds, private credit 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 side. Acts for fund sponsors (GPs), as the firm’s bio says.
- In our news. Named in 1 story in FundOpsHQ news.
Christopher Pristouris
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.
Michael L. Ramsey
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.
Michael A. Reeves
PartnerKirkland & Ellis
Los Angeles, CAAlso secondaries
- Leads with: Private equity funds. The practice the firm’s bio leads with.
- Since 2008. In practice since 2008, from the firm’s bio.
- GP side. Acts for fund sponsors (GPs), as the firm’s bio says.
Max Reibman
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.
Jasmina H. Resic
PartnerKirkland & Ellis
Chicago, ILAlso fund formation, private equity funds, venture funds + 3 more
- Leads with: Funds regulatory. 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.
Jack P. Rossman
PartnerKirkland & Ellis
New York, NYPractices: Fund formation
- Since 2012. In practice since 2012, from the firm’s bio.
A. Kelly Ryan
PartnerKirkland & Ellis
Chicago, ILAlso private equity funds, real estate funds, infrastructure funds + 1 more
- Leads with: Fund formation. The practice the firm’s bio leads with.
- Since 1998. In practice since 1998, from the firm’s bio.
- GP and LP side. Acts for both fund sponsors and investors, as the firm’s bio says.
Simon M. Saddleton
PartnerSidley Austin
Chicago, ILAlso fund formation, private equity funds, private credit funds + 2 more
- Leads with: Hedge funds. The practice the firm’s bio leads with.
- Since 2008. In practice since 2008, from the firm’s bio.
- GP and LP side. Acts for both fund sponsors and investors, as the firm’s bio says.
Nadia Sager
PartnerLatham & Watkins
San Diego, CAAlso private equity funds, venture funds, private credit funds + 4 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.
Justin Samson
PartnerKirkland & Ellis
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.
- Since 2016. In practice since 2016, from the firm’s bio.
- GP side. Acts for fund sponsors (GPs), as the firm’s bio says.
Samuel R. Scarcello
PartnerKirkland & Ellis
Chicago, ILAlso 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.
Reed T. Schuster
PartnerVinson & Elkins
Austin, TXAlso private equity funds, venture funds, private credit funds + 4 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.
Nathan R. Schuur
PartnerProskauer Rose
Washington, D.C.Also private credit funds, hedge funds, secondaries
- 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.
- Former SEC. Lists the SEC among past employers, on the firm’s bio.
Joseph Schwartz
PartnerSidley Austin
Chicago, ILAlso private equity funds, venture funds, private credit funds + 3 more
- Leads with: Fund formation. The practice the firm’s bio leads with.
- Since 2012. In practice since 2012, from the firm’s bio.
- GP side. Acts for fund sponsors (GPs), as the firm’s bio says.
Rachel X. Shepardson
PartnerPaul Hastings
New York, NYAlso 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.
Christopher Simpson
PartnerKirkland & Ellis
San Francisco, CAPractices: Secondaries
- Since 2015. In practice since 2015, from the firm’s bio.
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.
Robert Smith
PartnerKirkland & Ellis
Salt Lake City, UTAlso 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.
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.
Ryan Swan
PartnerPaul Hastings
Chicago, ILAlso fund formation, secondaries
- Leads with: Funds regulatory. The practice the firm’s bio leads with.
- Since 2012. In practice since 2012, from the firm’s bio.
- GP side. Acts for fund sponsors (GPs), as the firm’s bio says.
Serge Todorovich
PartnerPaul Hastings
New York, NYAlso fund formation, private credit funds, secondaries + 2 more
- Leads with: Hedge funds. The practice the firm’s bio leads with.
- Since 2002. In practice since 2002, 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.
Peter M. Vaglio
PartnerKirkland & Ellis
New York, NYPractices: Fund formation, Private credit funds, Infrastructure funds + 2 more
- Since 2006. In practice since 2006, 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.
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.
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.
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 + 5 more28partners
Willkie Farr & GallagherNew York · Chicago · Los Angeles9partners
Sidley AustinChicago · New York · Boston6partners
Paul HastingsNew York · Chicago · Los Angeles5partners
Latham & WatkinsChicago · New York · Houston + 1 more4partners
Winston TaylorCharlotte · Chicago · Miami + 1 more4partners
Gibson DunnNew York · Los Angeles3partners
Proskauer RoseBoston · New York · Washington, D.C.3partners

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.

Elizabeth Shea FriesPartner · Sidley AustinSince 1989
Thomas J. LaFondPartner · Goodwin ProcterSince 1994
Nathaniel MarrsPartner · Willkie Farr & GallagherSince 1996
Nadia SagerPartner · Latham & WatkinsSince 1996
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.

Max ReibmanPartner · Kirkland & EllisSince 2020
Joshua MorganPartner · Kirkland & EllisSince 2018
Michael L. RamseyPartner · Kirkland & EllisSince 2017
Jasmina H. ResicPartner · Kirkland & EllisSince 2017
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.

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

Who is named in our news?

Named in FundOpsHQ stories, the most recent story first.

Stuart AlterPartner · Milbank1 story, latest Jul 2026
Amanda PersaudPartner · Paul Hastings1 story, latest Apr 2026
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