Side Letter Lawyers

59 fund lawyers at 34 firms have bios that show a focus on side letters and MFN.

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: 59; all at partner level
Firms: 34
Most partners: Willkie Farr & Gallagher; 5 listed here
Biggest city: New York; 24 here

Fund lawyers

59 · 51–59

Chair, head or managing partner1
Partner or principal58

Under 10 years1
10 to 20 years18
20 years or more22

GPs and Sponsors50
LPs and Investors33

Named in our news3

Counting everyone…

					Primary practice			Prior firms
Fred J. Adam	WilmerHale	Partner	Palo Alto, CA	Fund formation, Private equity funds +1	–	34 yrs	NYU, University of +1	Hochman, Salkin & DeRoy
Dannia Altemimei	Greenberg Traurig	Shareholder	Chicago, IL	Fund formation, Funds regulatory	Fund formation	–	University of, Loyola University Chicago	Balyasny Asset Management L.P
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
Sam Baldinger	Kirkland & Ellis	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation	Fund formation	11 yrs	University of Pennsylvania, Fairleigh Dickinson University	Goodwin Procter
Reed W. Balmer	Troutman Pepper Locke	Partner	Stamford, CT	Fund formation, Private equity funds +4	Fund formation	–	University of Michigan, Reed College	–
Jay Baroody	Seward & Kissel	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Hedge funds +1	Fund formation	14 yrs	Fordham, University of Texas	–
Steven E. Bartz	Greenberg Traurig	Shareholder	Dallas, TX	Fund formation, Private equity funds +1	–	–	University of	–
Amie Benedetto	Alston & Bird	Partner	Atlanta, GA +1	Fund formation, Private equity funds +4	Fund formation	23 yrs	Boston College, Florida State University	Proprium Capital Partners, Morgan Stanley Real Estate Investing
Jeffrey R. Blumberg	Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath	Partner	Chicago, IL	Fund formation, Private equity funds +2	–	26 yrs	Chicago-Kent College of Law, Stanford	–
Cathleen A. Booth	Katten Muchin Rosenman	Partner and Co-Chair, Investment Management and Trading	Chicago, IL	Fund formation, Private equity funds +1	Fund formation	–	University of, Ohio Northern University	–
Walker Brierre	Holland & Knight	Partner	Houston, TX	Fund formation, Real estate funds +1	–	–	Tulane University, University of Texas	–
Christian Brockman	Chapman and Cutler	Partner	San Francisco, CA	Fund formation, Venture funds +5	Fund formation	15 yrs	NYU, University of Chicago	ParaFi Capital, ParaFi Technologies
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
Nate Christensen	Weil, Gotshal & Manges	Partner	Dallas, TX	Fund formation, Hedge funds	–	24 yrs	Duke, University of Washington	Hunt Consolidated
Ariele L. Cohen	Jones Day	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Hedge funds +1	Fund formation	24 yrs	American University, Brandeis University	–
Jeffrey D. Collins	Foley Hoag	Partner	Boston, MA	Fund tax	–	31 yrs	Duke, Brown University	–
James "Jay" S. Crenshaw	Greenberg Traurig	Shareholder	Orlando, FL	Fund formation, Private equity funds +4	Fund formation	21 yrs	University of, University of Florida	–
Joseph P. Cunningham	Willkie Farr & Gallagher	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Private equity funds +4	Hedge funds	28 yrs	Duke	–
Daniel Daneshrad	King & Spalding	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Private equity funds +5	Fund formation	–	NYU, UC Berkeley	–
Thomas M. Devaney	Jones Day	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Private equity funds +5	Fund formation	28 yrs	St. John's University, University at Albany	–
Rita Fitch	Kleinberg Kaplan Wolff & Cohen	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Private equity funds +3	Fund formation	11 yrs	–	–
David A. Form	Sidley Austin	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Private credit funds +2	Hedge funds	21 yrs	NYU, Columbia	–
Debra Franzese	Willkie Farr & Gallagher	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Private equity funds +2	Fund formation	18 yrs	American University, Stockton University	–
Xenia J. Garofalo	Eversheds Sutherland (US)	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Fund tax	Fund tax	–	Howard University, La Sierra University	–
Todd Gibson	Nelson Mullins	Partner	Pittsburgh, PA	Fund formation, Private equity funds +4	Fund formation	34 yrs	Duquesne University, West Virginia University	–
Joshua Guttman	Kleinberg Kaplan Wolff & Cohen	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Hedge funds +1	Hedge funds	14 yrs	Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Queens College, City University of New York	–
Alexios S. Hadji	Morgan, Lewis & Bockius	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Real estate funds +2	Fund tax	16 yrs	NYU, Ohio State University Michael +1	–
Christina Mickelson Hamilton	Shartsis Friese	Partner	San Francisco, CA	Fund formation, Private equity funds +2	Funds regulatory	–	University of California College of the Law, San Francisco, Dartmouth College	Banc of America Securities
Nicholas S. Hodge	K&L Gates	Partner	Boston, MA	Fund formation, Private equity funds +4	Hedge funds	45 yrs	Yale, University of Pennsylvania	–
Brian Jacobson	Morgan, Lewis & Bockius	Partner	Chicago, IL	Fund formation, Private equity funds +4	Fund formation	14 yrs	University of Minnesota, St. Olaf College	–
Gary A. Jungels	Taft Stettinius & Hollister	Partner	Chicago, IL	Fund formation, Private equity funds +3	Fund formation	–	University of, University of Notre Dame	–
Jesse P. Kanach	Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young	Partner	Washington, D.C.	Fund formation, Private equity funds +4	Fund formation	–	Georgetown, University of Virginia	–
Sarah C. Kessler	Willkie Farr & Gallagher	Partner	Chicago, IL	Fund formation, Private credit funds +2	Private credit funds	14 yrs	Indiana University, UC Berkeley	–
P. Thao Le	Troutman Pepper Locke	Partner	Philadelphia, PA +2	Fund formation, Private equity funds +5	Venture funds	27 yrs	South Texas College of Law Houston, University of Houston	–
David Lifshitz	McDermott Will & Schulte	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Private equity funds +2	Fund formation	–	University of Pennsylvania, Excelsior College	–
Joseph A. Lifsics	Kirkland & Ellis	Partner	Chicago, IL	Fund formation, Venture funds	–	13 yrs	Chicago-Kent College of Law	Mayer Brown
Cynthia A. Marian	Mayer Brown	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Private equity funds +7	Fund formation	18 yrs	NYU, University of Chicago +1	–
Steven C. Matos	Willkie Farr & Gallagher	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Hedge funds +1	–	12 yrs	Georgetown, Columbia	–
Meghan E. McCarthy	Morgan, Lewis & Bockius	Partner	Boston, MA	Fund formation, Fund tax	Fund tax	15 yrs	Boston College, Cornell	–
Katherine A. McCurry	Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton	Partner	Winston-Salem, NC	Fund formation, Private equity funds +3	Funds regulatory	15 yrs	University of Virginia	–
Mark A. Nesdill	Paul Hastings	Partner	Charlotte, NC	Fund formation, Fund finance	Fund finance	9 yrs	Washington University in, Arizona State University	–
Courtney C. Nowell	Morgan, Lewis & Bockius	Partner	Washington, D.C.	Fund formation, Private equity funds +6	Fund formation	30 yrs	Georgetown, William & Mary Law School +1	–
Kat Peters-Miller	Shartsis Friese	Partner	San Francisco, CA	Fund formation, Private equity funds +3	Funds regulatory	13 yrs	UC Hastings College of the Law, University of South Carolina	K&L Gates
Talia S. Primor	Mintz	Member	New York, NY	Fund formation, Private equity funds +4	Fund formation	–	Columbia, University of Wisconsin-Madison	–
Tiffany R. Reeves	Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath	Partner	Minneapolis, MN +1	Fund formation, Secondaries	–	20 yrs	Northwestern, University of +1	–
Joel H. Rothstein	Greenberg Traurig	Shareholder	New York, NY	Fund formation, Real estate funds	–	–	NYU, Columbia +1	–
Eli A. Shalam	Kleinberg Kaplan Wolff & Cohen	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Fund tax	Fund tax	10 yrs	Harvard, NYU	Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
Dee Anne Sjogren	Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath	Partner	Chicago, IL	Fund formation, Private equity funds +6	Fund formation	33 yrs	Tulane University, Vanderbilt	–
Jeffrey T. Skinner	Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton	Partner	Atlanta, GA +1	Fund formation, Private equity funds +5	–	30 yrs	–	–
Nicholas Stewart	Duane Morris	Partner	Baltimore, MD +1	Fund formation, Private equity funds +2	Fund formation	16 yrs	George Washington University, University of Maryland	Saul Ewing

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.

Joseph Suh
PartnerReed Smith
New York, NYAlso private equity funds, real estate funds, hedge funds
- 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.
David E. Tang
PartnerSidley Austin
San Francisco, CAAlso private equity funds
- 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.
Stacy Byrd Thomas
PartnerHolland & Knight
Boston, MA + 1 moreAlso venture funds, real estate funds, infrastructure 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.
Deborah A. Tuchman
PartnerWillkie Farr & Gallagher
New York, NYAlso fund formation, private equity funds, funds regulatory
- Leads with: Hedge funds. The practice the firm’s bio leads with.
- Since 2001. In practice since 2001, from the firm’s bio.
- GP and LP side. Acts for both fund sponsors and investors, as the firm’s bio says.
Ingrid Welch
Member & General CounselCozen O'Connor
Philadelphia, PAAlso private equity funds, venture funds, real estate funds + 1 more
- Leads with: Fund formation. The practice the firm’s bio leads with.
- Since 1984. In practice since 1984, from the firm’s bio.
- GP and LP side. Acts for both fund sponsors and investors, as the firm’s bio says.
Hannah J. Wells
PartnerMcDermott Will & Schulte
New York, NYAlso fund formation, private equity funds, private credit funds + 3 more
- Leads with: Fund tax. The practice the firm’s bio leads with.
- GP side. Acts for fund sponsors (GPs), as the firm’s bio says.
Michael Wu
PartnerWinston Taylor
San Francisco, CA + 1 moreAlso venture funds, funds regulatory
- Leads with: Fund formation. The practice the firm’s bio leads with.
- Since 2001. In practice since 2001, from the firm’s bio.
- GP and LP side. Acts for both fund sponsors and investors, as the firm’s bio says.
Kelly E. Zelezen
PartnerKleinberg Kaplan Wolff & Cohen
New York, NYAlso private equity funds, funds regulatory
- Leads with: Hedge funds. The practice the firm’s bio leads with.
- Since 2003. In practice since 2003, from the firm’s bio.
- GP side. Acts for fund sponsors (GPs), as the firm’s bio says.
Lina E. Ziurys
PartnerMcDermott Will & Schulte
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 side. Acts for fund sponsors (GPs), as the firm’s bio says.

Private Fund Law Firms, by partners listed

Willkie Farr & GallagherNew York · Chicago5partners
Greenberg TraurigChicago · Dallas · New York4partners
Kleinberg Kaplan Wolff & CohenNew York4partners
Morgan, Lewis & BockiusBoston · Chicago · New York + 1 more4partners
Faegre Drinker Biddle & ReathChicago · Minneapolis3partners
Kirkland & EllisChicago · New York3partners
McDermott Will & SchulteNew York3partners
Holland & KnightBoston · Houston2partners

Fund lawyers, by the numbers

Who has practised longest here?

By the first year in practice each firm’s bio gives; 41 of the 59 here give one.

Nicholas S. HodgePartner · K&L GatesSince 1981
Ingrid WelchMember & General Counsel · Cozen O'ConnorSince 1984
Fred J. AdamPartner · WilmerHaleSince 1992
Todd GibsonPartner · Nelson MullinsSince 1992
Dee Anne SjogrenPartner · Faegre Drinker Biddle & ReathSince 1993

All, by years in practice in the table

Who began practising most recently?

By the first year in practice each firm’s bio gives; 41 of the 59 here give one.

Mark A. NesdillPartner · Paul HastingsSince 2017
Eli A. ShalamPartner · Kleinberg Kaplan Wolff & CohenSince 2016
Sam BaldingerPartner · Kirkland & EllisSince 2015
Rita FitchPartner · Kleinberg Kaplan Wolff & CohenSince 2015
Dan ApplebaumPartner · Kirkland & EllisSince 2014

All, newest first in the table

Who is named in our news?

Named in FundOpsHQ stories, the most recent story first.

Reed W. BalmerPartner · Troutman Pepper Locke1 story, latest Oct 2026
Ariele L. CohenPartner · Jones Day1 story, latest Sep 2026
Cynthia A. MarianPartner · Mayer Brown1 story, latest Jan 2026

About this list

What side letters and MFN work is

Negotiating the investor-specific side letters to a fund’s terms and running the most-favoured-nation election process.

In sum

59 fund lawyers at 34 firms are listed on this page. The 5 with the most: Willkie Farr & Gallagher (5), Greenberg Traurig (4), Kleinberg Kaplan Wolff & Cohen (4), Morgan, Lewis & Bockius (4) and Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath (3). The schools their bios name most: NYU (9), University of (9) and Columbia (6). Of the 41 who give a first year in practice, half began in 2005 or before.

Questions

How many fund lawyers does FundOpsHQ list?

59 partners at 34 firms. Last checked Oct 23–24, 2026. Each one is at partner level, and their firm's own bio page describes their work on side letters and MFN (the quote is on each profile).

Which private fund law firms have the most partners listed?

Willkie Farr & Gallagher (5), Greenberg Traurig (4) and Kleinberg Kaplan Wolff & Cohen (4), counting the partners each firm's own website lists.

Where are fund lawyers based?

The cities with the most: New York (24), Chicago (10) and San Francisco (6).

What else do these lawyers work on?

The practices they list most: fund formation (55), private equity funds (34) and funds regulatory (33).

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