Private Funds

Weil’s Private Funds practice has a global footprint, with highly ranked practitioners in the United States and Europe. Our team of more than 60 full-time dedicated private funds lawyers is able to serve all of our clients’ needs, wherever they are based and wherever they are raising funds.

Notable Representations, Key Contacts

Our client base covers a broad range of the fund sponsor spectrum, from some of the largest, most well-established players to emerging participants. We have formed funds for a significant number of clients ranging from multi-billion dollar funds, to middle-market funds, to funds for emerging clients.

Depth of Experience

Our Private Funds lawyers handle:

The formation of private investment funds of all sizes and investment strategies, including buyout funds, growth equity funds, middle market funds, infrastructure funds, real estate funds, debt funds, funds-of-funds, secondary funds, special situations funds and hedge funds;
The establishment of investment firms (including negotiating investment professionals’ exits from prior employers) and advising on their operation, regulation and internal governance arrangements, including strategic issues such as succession planning, monetization alternatives, the admission of new firm partners and separation matters;
Advising on the acquisition and sale of minority and majority stakes in fund sponsors as well as spinouts of fund businesses and management teams;
Representing buyers and sellers of portfolios of private fund interests in secondary transactions;
Counseling sponsor clients who are considering “public capital” alternatives, including the creation of publicly listed private equity funds and management companies;
Structuring “non-fund” investment arrangements, such as managed accounts, for sponsors and/or small investor groups, as well as co-investment vehicles;
Creating carried interest and employee co-investment schemes and advising on executive incentivization and retention arrangements; and
Representing institutional investors, including sovereign wealth and major pension funds, in connection with their investments in funds and participation in co-investments and other related transactions.

Innovative Approach

Weil helps shape the market with novel and forward-thinking approaches to fund terms and structures. We are regularly retained by both new and existing clients to advise on transformational transactions and matters of high strategic importance to the fund managers themselves. Much of our work involves innovative solutions to complex issues and extends beyond the mere “cookie-cutter” assignments. By combining our private funds regulatory capabilities across the United States and Europe, we are able to offer clients unique insights into global regulatory and tax developments that affect their fundraisings.

360-degree coverage for clients

Weil’s Private Funds practice is fully integrated with our transactional practices, allowing us to provide comprehensive support for all our private funds clients. We also offer dedicated tax and regulatory professionals that keep clients up to speed on the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, Dodd-Frank (including “Volcker Rule” provisions), and AIFMD. We provide 24/7 commercial advice to managers on the raising of capital, the deployment of capital and the realization of their investments for the entire duration of their funds’ lives. Our Private Funds practice is highly integrated with the Firm’s Private Equity execution practice and our clients benefit from seamless commercial advice across both the formation and investment processes.

Key Contacts

Jonathon G. Soler

Partner

New York

+1 212 310 8278
jonathon.soler@weil.com

Ed Gander

Partner

London

+44 20 7903 1138
ed.gander@weil.com

See list of lawyers globally

Weil Named Fund Formation “Practice Group of the Year”

Law360 2020

Weil Named a “Leading” Firm for Investments Funds

Chambers USA 2020

Weil Named a “Leading” Firm for Private Equity Funds

Legal 500 US 2020

Weil Named a “Leading” Firm for Private Equity Funds in the U.S.

IFLR1000 2021

Ranked Tier 1 for Private Equity Funds in the U.K.

IFLR1000 2021

Ranked Tier 1 for Real Estate Funds

Legal 500 UK 2020

Ranked Tier 1 Nationwide for Private Funds / Hedge Funds Law

U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” 2020*

* Best Lawyers (in America) is by Levine Leichtman Capital Partners

Awards and Recognition, Speaking Engagements, Latest Thinking, Firm News & Announcements

Awards and Recognition

Weil Named Fund Formation “Practice Group of the Year” Award Brief — Law360 2020
Weil Named a “Leading” Firm for Investment Funds: Private Equity: Fund formation in the U.S. and Nationwide Award Brief — Chambers Global 2020
Weil Named a “Leading” Firm for Investment Funds & Asset Management in the U.S. and U.K. Award Brief — Chambers Global 2020
Weil Named a “Leading” Firm for Private Equity Funds in the U.S. Award Brief — IFLR1000 2021
Weil Ranked Tier 1 for Private Equity Funds in the U.K. Award Brief — IFLR1000 2021
Weil Named a “Leading” Firm for Real Estate Funds in the U.K. Award Brief — IFLR1000 2021
Weil Named a “Leading” Firm for Investment Funds Nationwide Award Brief — Chambers USA 2020
Weil Named a “Leading” Firm for Private Equity Funds Award Brief — Legal 500 US 2020

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Speaking Engagements

PLI’s Twenty-First Annual Private Equity Forum Speaker(s): Andrew I. Chizzik
April 30, 2020 — New York, NY — Weil Private Funds partner Andrew Chizzik participates in a panel titled, “How to Market Private Equity Funds on a Global Basis,” as part of PLI’s Twenty-First Annual Private Equity Forum. This panel discusses Organizing a global fund raising effort, Key issues in U.S. and European fundraising and Practice tips.
Maples Investment Funds Forum Speaker(s): Stephanie Epstein Srulowitz
February 13, 2020 — Weil partner Stephanie Srulowitz spoke on a panel titled “End-of-Life funds - a burden or opportunity” as part of the Maples Investment Funds Forum.