Elizabeth Lenas

Practice Areas

Elizabeth (Liza) Lenas is a member of Cleary Gottlieb's Executive Committee and the Leader of the firm's Global Private Funds Group, where she advises many of the world's most sophisticated alternative asset managers on complex fund formation and investment strategies.

Her practice spans the full lifecycle of private funds, with deep experience in fund formation, co-investments, consortium transactions, large-scale acquisitions, spin-offs, joint ventures, shareholding arrangements, managed accounts, and other strategic transactions. Liza represents sponsors across asset classes—including private equity, credit, venture, impact, and growth—and has been at the forefront of developing some of the industry's most innovative investment vehicles, including one of the largest evergreen funds ever raised.

She also counsels limited partners on their fund commitments and investments and has significant experience navigating clients through high-stakes disputes and sensitive investment-related controversies.

Liza's clients include leading firms such as Sixth Street, Sequoia Capital, KKR, Hillhouse, TPG, and Cascade Asset Management Company.

In addition to her client work, Liza is deeply committed to public service and serves as New York Co-Chair of Cleary Gottlieb's U.S. Pro Bono Committee.

Career

Became partner, 2013; Member of the Executive Committee; Leader of Global Private Funds Group; Co-Chair of U.S. Pro Bono Committee New York.

J.D., James Kent Scholar, Columbia University School of Law; B.A., University Scholar, New York University.

Professional Memberships

Member of the New York Bar

Organizing Committee and Speaker (2023-2026), IBA Annual International Conference on Private Investment Funds

Member, Co-Chair (2020-2021), Private Investment Fund Forum

Member (2011-2013), Committee on Private Investment Funds, Bar Association of the City of New York