Sovereign Wealth and Pension Fund Lawyers

226 fund lawyers at 56 firms have bios that show a focus on sovereign wealth and pension investors.

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: 226; all at partner level
Firms: 56
Most partners: Proskauer Rose; 26 listed here
Biggest city: New York; 104 here

Fund lawyers

226 · 201–226

Chair, head or managing partner5
Partner or principal221

Under 10 years5
10 to 20 years52
20 years or more84

GPs and Sponsors190
LPs and Investors200

Named in our news6

Counting everyone…

					Primary practice			Prior firms
Zeeshan Ahmedani	Proskauer Rose	Partner	Los Angeles, CA	Fund formation, Private equity funds +4	Fund formation	–	University of Southern, University of California, Irvine	–
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	–
Semma G. Arzapalo	Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman	Partner	Los Angeles, CA	Fund formation, Private equity funds +3	–	21 yrs	University of Michigan, UCLA	–
Jim Audette	Chapman and Cutler	Partner	Chicago, IL	Fund formation, Private equity funds +3	–	14 yrs	University of Notre Dame, Loyola University Chicago	–
Conrad C Axelrod	King & Spalding	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Private equity funds +6	Real estate funds	–	Humboldt University of Berlin Faculty of Law, University of Tasmania	–
Olesya Bakar	Holland & Knight	Partner	Washington, D.C.	Fund formation, Private equity funds +3	Fund formation	–	University of, University of Georgia	–
Reed W. Balmer	Troutman Pepper Locke	Partner	Stamford, CT	Fund formation, Private equity funds +4	Fund formation	–	University of Michigan, Reed College	–
Hunter Barker	Polsinelli	Shareholder	Dallas, TX	Fund formation, Private equity funds	Fund formation	9 yrs	University of Texas, Oklahoma State University	–
Jay Baroody	Seward & Kissel	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Hedge funds +1	Fund formation	14 yrs	Fordham, University of Texas	–
John P. Beals	Nixon Peabody	Partner	Boston, MA +1	Fund formation, Venture funds +2	Fund formation	–	Suffolk University, University of New Hampshire	–
Thomas A. Beaudoin	Goodwin Procter	Partner	Boston, MA	Fund formation, Private equity funds +1	Fund formation	–	George Washington University, Boston University	WilmerHale, Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault
John A. Beck	Proskauer Rose	Partner	Boston, MA	Fund formation, Private equity funds +5	Fund formation	10 yrs	Harvard, University of Connecticut	–
Jason Behrens	Linklaters	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Private equity funds +6	Fund formation	–	Georgetown, Cornell	–
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	–
Kelley M. Bender	Chapman and Cutler	Chief Operating Partner	Chicago, IL	Fund formation, Private equity funds +4	Fund formation	21 yrs	Loyola University, Augustana College	–
Stephanie W. Berdik	Kirkland & Ellis	Partner	Boston, MA	Fund formation, Private credit funds +1	Fund formation	22 yrs	Boston College, Bucknell University	Proskauer, State Street Global Advisors
Patrick J. Bianchi	Troutman Pepper Locke	Partner	Boston, MA	Fund formation, Private equity funds +5	Fund formation	12 yrs	Temple University, Boston College	Infinata
Robert Blaustein	Kirkland & Ellis	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Private equity funds +6	Fund formation	21 yrs	University of Pennsylvania, Yale	–
Matthew Block	Willkie Farr & Gallagher	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Private equity funds +4	Secondaries	13 yrs	New York Law School, Rider University	–
Olga Bogush	ArentFox Schiff	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Private equity funds +3	–	22 yrs	NYU, Fordham +1	Herrick, Feinstein
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	–
Sarah C. Borden	Weil, Gotshal & Manges	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Private equity funds +1	Fund formation	13 yrs	Tufts University, George Washington University	–
Todd Boudreau	Arnold & Porter	Partner	Boston, MA +1	Fund formation, Secondaries	–	28 yrs	Suffolk University, UCLA	–
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
Michael G. Brown	McDermott Will & Schulte	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Private equity funds +5	Fund formation	–	Harvard, George Washington University	–
Jeffrey M. Bruns	Mayer Brown	Partner	Chicago, IL	Fund formation, Private equity funds +5	Fund tax	–	University of Wisconsin	–
Gregg S. Buksbaum	Morgan, Lewis & Bockius	Partner	Washington, D.C.	Fund formation, Private equity funds +7	Fund formation	30 yrs	Brooklyn Law School, University of Michigan	–
Bradley Van Buren	Holland & Knight	Partner	Boston, MA	Fund formation, Private equity funds +5	Fund formation	–	Boston University, Albany Law School +1	–
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
Kristin H. Burns	Kirkland & Ellis	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Private credit funds +1	Private credit funds	25 yrs	Georgetown, University of Notre Dame	Eversheds Sutherland, Baker Botts
Sasha Burstein	K&L Gates	Partner	San Francisco, CA +1	Fund formation, Private equity funds +5	Fund formation	–	UC Berkeley, University of California, Hastings College of the Law	–
Stephen Butler	Kirkland & Ellis	Partner	Austin, TX +1	Fund formation, Private equity funds +3	Fund tax	–	UC Berkeley, Yale	–
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
Ryan M. Carpenter	Proskauer Rose	Partner	Boston, MA	Fund formation, Private equity funds +4	Private equity funds	–	University of, Princeton	–
Kevin M. Cassidy	Seward & Kissel	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Private credit funds +3	Fund formation	13 yrs	Albany Law School, George Washington University	–
Lana Castor	Weil, Gotshal & Manges	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Private equity funds +2	Fund formation	13 yrs	Georgetown, University of Michigan	–
Monica H. Chang	Morgan, Lewis & Bockius	Partner	San Francisco, CA	Fund formation, Private equity funds +4	Fund formation	14 yrs	Columbia, University of Washington	–
Tammy Chang	Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman	Partner	Los Angeles, CA	Fund formation, Private equity funds +3	–	13 yrs	Loyola Law School	–
Sabrina Chartrand	Kirkland & Ellis	Partner	Boston, MA	Fund formation, Private equity funds +5	Fund formation	6 yrs	Boston University, Suffolk University	Morgan Lewis
Won-Han Cheng	K&L Gates	Partner	Seattle, WA	Fund formation, Private equity funds +3	–	34 yrs	University of, University of Hawaii	–
Sarah K. Cherry	Proskauer Rose	Partner	Boston, MA	Fund formation, Private equity funds +2	Private equity funds	–	University of Toronto Faculty of Law, University of British Columbia	–
Kuang-Chu (K.C.) Chiang	Olshan Frome Wolosky	Partner	New York, NY	Private equity funds, Private credit funds +2	–	31 yrs	Columbia, National Taiwan University	–
Shusmita Chowdhury	Baker McKenzie	Partner	Chicago, IL	Fund formation, Private equity funds +3	Fund formation	13 yrs	University of Sydney	–
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
Cameron M. Clark	Proskauer Rose	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Private equity funds +3	Fund formation	–	Georgetown, University of San Francisco	–
John D. Cleaver	Morgan, Lewis & Bockius	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Hedge funds +1	Fund formation	14 yrs	Brooklyn Law School, Swarthmore College	–
Ariele L. Cohen	Jones Day	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Hedge funds +1	Fund formation	24 yrs	American University, Brandeis University	–
Hila Cohen	Lowenstein Sandler	Partner	New York, NY	Fund formation, Venture funds +1	Fund formation	10 yrs	McGill University Faculty of Law, Yeshiva University	–

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.

Paul A. Steffens
PartnerTroutman Pepper Locke
Charlotte, NCAlso private equity funds, venture funds, real estate 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.
Derek N. Steingarten
PartnerAlston & Bird
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.
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.
Joshua H. Sternoff
PartnerPaul Hastings
New York, NYAlso private equity funds, private credit funds, real estate funds + 2 more
- Leads with: Fund formation. The practice the firm’s bio leads with.
- Since 1995. In practice since 1995, from the firm’s bio.
- GP and LP side. Acts for both fund sponsors and investors, as the firm’s bio says.
Bill Sturman
PartnerClifford Chance
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.
- Since 1995. In practice since 1995, from the firm’s bio.
- GP and LP side. Acts for both fund sponsors and investors, as the firm’s bio says.
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 W. Tegeler
Optional Service PartnerProskauer Rose
Boston, MA + 1 moreAlso private equity funds, venture funds, private credit funds + 3 more
- Leads with: Fund formation. The practice the firm’s bio leads with.
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.
Hudson Todd
PartnerMcDermott Will & Schulte
Nashville, TNAlso 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.
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.
Joshua Turner
PartnerHaynes and Boone
New York, NYAlso private equity funds, hedge funds, 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.
- GP and LP side. Acts for both fund sponsors and investors, as the firm’s bio says.
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.
Mark A. Vandehaar
PartnerWillkie Farr & Gallagher
New York, NYAlso fund formation, private equity funds, private credit funds + 1 more
- Leads with: Hedge funds. The practice the firm’s bio leads with.
- Since 2004. In practice since 2004, from the firm’s bio.
- GP and LP side. Acts for both fund sponsors and investors, as the firm’s bio says.
Pete Vincent
ShareholderPolsinelli
St. Louis, MOAlso private equity funds, hedge funds, funds regulatory
- 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.
Barry S. Le Vine
PartnerKirkland & Ellis
San Francisco, CAAlso private equity funds, private credit funds, hedge funds + 1 more
- Leads with: Fund formation. The practice the firm’s bio leads with.
- Since 2010. In practice since 2010, from the firm’s bio.
- GP and LP side. Acts for both fund sponsors and investors, as the firm’s bio says.
Zhize Wang
PartnerSidley Austin
San Francisco, CAAlso private equity funds, venture funds, private credit 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 and LP side. Acts for both fund sponsors and investors, as the firm’s bio says.
Mark W. Weakley
PartnerFaegre Drinker Biddle & Reath
Boulder, COPractices: Private equity funds, Venture funds, Real estate funds + 2 more
- Since 1987. In practice since 1987, 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.
David A. Winter
PartnerHogan Lovells Cadwalader
Washington, D.C.Also venture funds, private credit funds, real estate funds + 3 more
- Leads with: Fund formation. The practice the firm’s bio leads with.
- Since 1993. In practice since 1993, from the firm’s bio.
- GP and LP side. Acts for both fund sponsors and investors, as the firm’s bio says.
Barry M. Wolf
Executive PartnerWeil, Gotshal & Manges
New York, NYAlso private equity funds, fund tax
- 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.
- In our news. Named in 3 stories in FundOpsHQ news.
Andrew L. Wool
PartnerKirkland & Ellis
Chicago, ILAlso private equity funds, private credit funds, real estate funds
- Leads with: Fund formation. The practice the firm’s bio leads with.
- Since 2004. In practice since 2004, from the firm’s bio.
- GP and LP side. Acts for both fund sponsors and investors, as the firm’s bio says.
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.
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.
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.
Arthur L. Zwickel
PartnerPaul Hastings
Los Angeles, CAAlso private equity funds, hedge funds, funds regulatory
- Leads with: Fund formation. The practice the firm’s bio leads with.
- Since 1993. In practice since 1993, from the firm’s bio.
- LP side. Acts for fund investors (LPs), as the firm’s bio says.

Private Fund Law Firms, by partners listed

Proskauer RoseBoston · New York · Los Angeles + 1 more26partners
Morgan, Lewis & BockiusNew York · Boston · San Francisco + 3 more17partners
Kirkland & EllisNew York · Boston · Los Angeles + 4 more16partners
Sidley AustinNew York · Chicago · Boston + 2 more11partners
Goodwin ProcterNew York · Boston · Washington, D.C.9partners
Troutman Pepper LockePhiladelphia · Boston · New York + 4 more8partners
K&L GatesSeattle · Palo Alto · San Francisco + 1 more7partners
Willkie Farr & GallagherNew York · Los Angeles7partners

Fund lawyers, by the numbers

Who has practised longest here?

By the first year in practice each firm’s bio gives; 141 of the 226 here give one.

Brian DiamondPartner · Hogan Lovells CadwaladerSince 1982
Charles H. PurcellPartner · K&L GatesSince 1982
Ingrid WelchMember & General Counsel · Cozen O'ConnorSince 1984
Barry M. WolfExecutive Partner · Weil, Gotshal & MangesSince 1984
Mark W. WeakleyPartner · Faegre Drinker Biddle & ReathSince 1987

All, by years in practice in the table

Who began practising most recently?

By the first year in practice each firm’s bio gives; 141 of the 226 here give one.

Sabrina ChartrandPartner · Kirkland & EllisSince 2020
Olya KurilovichPartner · Goodwin ProcterSince 2018
Hunter BarkerShareholder · PolsinelliSince 2017
Lauren B. EmanuelPartner · Kilpatrick Townsend & StocktonSince 2017
Zhize WangPartner · Sidley AustinSince 2017

All, newest first in the table

Who came from the SEC?

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

Eric M. DiamondPartner · Sullivan & CromwellFormer SEC
Justine LePartner · Morgan, Lewis & BockiusFormer SEC
Tram N. NguyenPartner · Mayer BrownFormer SEC

Who is named in our news?

Named in FundOpsHQ stories, the most recent story first.

Barry M. WolfExecutive Partner · Weil, Gotshal & Manges3 stories, latest Oct 2026
Reed W. BalmerPartner · Troutman Pepper Locke1 story, latest Oct 2026
Hila CohenPartner · Lowenstein Sandler1 story, latest Sep 2026
Marie T. DeFalcoPartner · Lowenstein Sandler1 story, latest Sep 2026
Ariele L. CohenPartner · Jones Day1 story, latest Sep 2026

About this list

What sovereign wealth and pension investors work is

Acting for the big institutional LPs (sovereign wealth funds, public and corporate pensions, endowments) as investors in private funds: fund investments, side letters, co-investments and secondaries.

In sum

226 fund lawyers at 56 firms are listed on this page. The 5 with the most: Proskauer Rose (26), Morgan, Lewis & Bockius (17), Kirkland & Ellis (16), Sidley Austin (11) and Goodwin Procter (9). The schools their bios name most: NYU (25), Harvard (19) and University of (19). Of the 141 who give a first year in practice, half began in 2005 or before. 3 list a past post at the SEC or another regulator.

Questions

How many fund lawyers does FundOpsHQ list?

226 partners at 56 firms. Last checked Oct 23–24, 2026. Each one is at partner level, and their firm's own bio page describes their work on sovereign wealth and pension investors (the quote is on each profile).

Which private fund law firms have the most partners listed?

Proskauer Rose (26), Morgan, Lewis & Bockius (17) and Kirkland & Ellis (16), counting the partners each firm's own website lists.

Where are fund lawyers based?

The cities with the most: New York (104), Boston (39) and Chicago (24).

What else do these lawyers work on?

The practices they list most: fund formation (217), private equity funds (171) and real estate funds (121).

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