Ranking tables
Private Equity: Fund Formation | USA
USA - Nationwide
Rankings overview for Departments
Band 1
- Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP 5 Years Ranked
- Debevoise & Plimpton LLP 5 Years Ranked
- Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP 5 Years Ranked
- Kirkland & Ellis 5 Years Ranked
- Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP 5 Years Ranked
- Ropes & Gray LLP 5 Years Ranked
- Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP 5 Years Ranked
Band 2
Band 3
Band 4
- Clifford Chance US LLP 2 Years Ranked
- Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP 2 Years Ranked
- Day Pitney LLP 1 Years Ranked
- Dechert LLP 2 Years Ranked
- DLA Piper LLP (US) 5 Years Ranked
- Greenberg Traurig, LLP 1 Years Ranked
- Hogan Lovells US LLP 3 Years Ranked
- King & Spalding LLP 1 Years Ranked
- Linklaters 4 Years Ranked
- Mayer Brown LLP 3 Years Ranked
- McDermott Will & Emery LLP 3 Years Ranked
- Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP 1 Years Ranked
- Morrison Foerster 2 Years Ranked
- Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP 5 Years Ranked
- Sidley Austin LLP 2 Years Ranked
- Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP & Affiliates 5 Years Ranked
- Winston & Strawn LLP 5 Years Ranked
Senior Statespeople
Eminent Practitioners
Band 1
- Andrew Wright Kirkland & Ellis LLP14 Years Ranked
- Barrie B Covit Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP18 Years Ranked
- Elizabeth Lenas Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP18 Years Ranked
- Erica Berthou Kirkland & Ellis LLP17 Years Ranked
- Jonathan Adler Debevoise & Plimpton LLP11 Years Ranked
- Jonathan Karen Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP9 Years Ranked
- Jonathon G Soler Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP18 Years Ranked
- Kenneth I Rosh Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP19 Years Ranked
- Leor Landa Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP22 Years Ranked
- Marco Masotti Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP20 Years Ranked
- Michael Wolitzer Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP23 Years Ranked
- Rebecca F Silberstein Debevoise & Plimpton LLP23 Years Ranked
Band 2
- Amanda Persaud Ropes & Gray LLP7 Years Ranked
- Andrew Ahern Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP7 Years Ranked
- Edward D Sopher Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP22 Years Ranked
- Justin Storms Debevoise & Plimpton LLP13 Years Ranked
- Lorna Bowen Debevoise & Plimpton LLP9 Years Ranked
- Maurice Gindi Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP5 Years Ranked
- Michael Hong Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP10 Years Ranked
- Shukie Grossman Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP19 Years Ranked
Band 3
- Adrian Leipsic Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP7 Years Ranked
- Andrea J Schwartzman Latham & Watkins LLP7 Years Ranked
- Andrew Chizzik Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP7 Years Ranked
- Daniel Lavon-Krein Kirkland & Ellis LLP7 Years Ranked
- David A Winter Hogan Lovells US LLP19 Years Ranked
- Edward D Nelson Latham & Watkins LLP14 Years Ranked
- Jason Herman Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP13 Years Ranked
- Kelly Ryan Kirkland & Ellis8 Years Ranked
- Laura S Friedrich Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP14 Years Ranked
- Mark Proctor Latham & Watkins LLP6 Years Ranked
- Roger Singer Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP18 Years Ranked
- Sean J Hill Kirkland & Ellis LLP17 Years Ranked
- Stephanie R Breslow Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP23 Years Ranked
Band 4
- Adam Tope DLA Piper LLP (US)6 Years Ranked
- Andrew Ford Debevoise & Plimpton LLP9 Years Ranked
- Barton B Clark Latham & Watkins LLP17 Years Ranked
- Chris P Kallos Kirkland & Ellis17 Years Ranked
- David Kreisler Mayer Brown LLP19 Years Ranked
- David W Tegeler Proskauer Rose LLP22 Years Ranked
- Glenn R Sarno Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP21 Years Ranked
- Howard J. Beber Proskauer Rose LLP14 Years Ranked
- Ian Schwartz McDermott Will & Emery LLP4 Years Ranked
- James Deeken Akin5 Years Ranked
- Jason Behrens Linklaters4 Years Ranked
- John Ayer Ropes & Gray LLP12 Years Ranked
- John Caccia Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP & Affiliates14 Years Ranked
- Jordan C Murray Kirkland & Ellis LLP16 Years Ranked
- Joseph A Smith Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP18 Years Ranked
- Joshua H Sternoff Paul Hastings LLP18 Years Ranked
- Lior Ohayon Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP10 Years Ranked
- Marc N. Biamonte Ropes & Gray LLP4 Years Ranked
- Matthew Goldstein Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP5 Years Ranked
- Matthew Howard Kirkland & Ellis LLP5 Years Ranked
- Michael Sabin Clifford Chance US LLP5 Years Ranked
- Monica Arora Proskauer Rose LLP6 Years Ranked
- Nadia S. Sager Latham & Watkins LLP7 Years Ranked
- Rebecca Neuschatz Zelenka Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP6 Years Ranked
- Robert Blaustein Kirkland & Ellis LLP4 Years Ranked
- Stephanie Epstein Srulowitz Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP7 Years Ranked
- Timothy Clark Freshfields US LLP14 Years Ranked
- Tricia Lee Dechert LLP5 Years Ranked
- Wendy Gallegos Akin4 Years Ranked
Band 5
- Allen P. Ashley DLA Piper LLP (US)5 Years Ranked
- Anna Rips Paul Hastings LLP5 Years Ranked
- Arash Farhadieh Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP3 Years Ranked
- Blayne Grady Akin5 Years Ranked
- Don Melamed Proskauer Rose LLP5 Years Ranked
- Eric Requenez Ropes & Gray LLP5 Years Ranked
- Fadi G Samman Akin7 Years Ranked
- Heather Cruz Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP & Affiliates12 Years Ranked
- Jason Auerbach Debevoise & Plimpton LLP5 Years Ranked
- Jeffrey Kaplan Kirkland & Ellis6 Years Ranked
- Justin Solomon Kirkland & Ellis3 Years Ranked
- Lawrence N Barshay Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP19 Years Ranked
- Lindsey Wiersma Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP6 Years Ranked
- Megan Devaney Winston & Strawn LLP5 Years Ranked
- Mike Dankis Linklaters5 Years Ranked
- Nathaniel Marrs Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP5 Years Ranked
- Nicole Washington Kirkland & Ellis LLP4 Years Ranked
- Paul J Verbesey Goodwin7 Years Ranked
- Phillip Isom Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP8 Years Ranked
- Phyllis Schwartz Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP5 Years Ranked
- Prakash Mehta Akin19 Years Ranked
Band 6
- Alisa Waxman Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP5 Years Ranked
- Amie Benedetto Alston & Bird LLP1 Years Ranked
- Amran Hussein Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP7 Years Ranked
- Bradley Mandel Winston & Strawn LLP2 Years Ranked
- Brian I Greene Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP5 Years Ranked
- Christopher Riccardi Seward & Kissel LLP1 Years Ranked
- Conrad van Loggerenberg Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP3 Years Ranked
- Cynthia Marian Greenberg Traurig, LLP2 Years Ranked
- David Nestler McDermott Will & Emery LLP3 Years Ranked
- David Sherman Kirkland & Ellis LLP3 Years Ranked
- Dennis Pereira Akin2 Years Ranked
- Ed Winters Nixon Peabody LLP2 Years Ranked
- Heather Wyckoff Alston & Bird LLP1 Years Ranked
- Jedd Wider Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP1 Years Ranked
- Joseph M Mannon Vedder Price PC2 Years Ranked
- Kevin Neubauer Seward & Kissel LLP1 Years Ranked
- Mandee Gruen Goodwin1 Years Ranked
- Max Rosenberg Paul Hastings LLP2 Years Ranked
- Olesya Bakar Holland & Knight LLP2 Years Ranked
- Omoz Osayimwese Dechert LLP2 Years Ranked
- Peter Laybourn Ropes & Gray LLP5 Years Ranked
- Sally Bergmann Debevoise & Plimpton LLP5 Years Ranked
- Sasha Burstein K&L Gates1 Years Ranked
- Shaun Reader Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP2 Years Ranked
- Stephanie Thomas Morrison Foerster7 Years Ranked
All Departments profiles
Band 1
1 Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLPPrivate Equity: Fund Formation2025 | Band 1 | 5 Years RankedCleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP is highly regarded in the private equity and fund formation market. The firm leverages expertise across a range of industries, with particular strength in the technology and climate sectors. Cleary advises clients on private funds, strategic acquisitions, and secondaries.
1 Debevoise & Plimpton LLPPrivate Equity: Fund Formation2025 | Band 1 | 5 Years RankedDebevoise & Plimpton is in an elite category of private fund practices with a considerable global footprint and an extensive client base of top-tier private equity sponsors. Represents all manner of private equity businesses, including some of the largest debt fund managers. Noted activity in the representation of secondary funds in connection with transactions and fundraisings. Active in all types of investment strategies including buyout, distressed and credit, real estate and infrastructure funds.1 Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLPPrivate Equity: Fund Formation2025 | Band 1 | 5 Years RankedFried, Frank, Harris continues to attract high caliber sponsors in the real estate, energy, credit and buyout spaces. Valued for the breadth of its fund formation expertise, including infrastructure and growth funds. Able to offer its expanding client base an integrated service, working closely with its practices in tax, regulatory and employee benefits. Also noted for its strength in cross-border matters.1 Kirkland & EllisPrivate Equity: Fund Formation2025 | Band 1 | 5 Years RankedKirkland & Ellis boasts an impressively deep group of private funds specialists noted for its handling of a large volume of fundraisings for prominent high end and mid-market sponsors. A global footprint ensures that it is well equipped to take on sophisticated matters involving buyout funds and real estate funds. Additional expertise in handling significant secondary transactions. Noted for its experience of working with a wide array of investors as part of a global platform.1 Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLPPrivate Equity: Fund Formation2025 | Band 1 | 5 Years RankedPaul, Weiss has a strong private equity practice counseling elite private equity fund managers on some of the biggest fundraisings in the market. Highly regarded for its experienced structuring of high-end formations, encompassing buyout, distressed and credit funds, among others. Has strong track record in working with global investors.1 Ropes & Gray LLPPrivate Equity: Fund Formation2025 | Band 1 | 5 Years RankedThe Ropes & Gray team is well known for its excellent representation of sizable sponsor-side clients in a variety of private equity fund formations including buyout and growth capital funds. Proven track record structuring private equity vehicles such as real estate and credit funds.1 Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLPPrivate Equity: Fund Formation2025 | Band 1 | 5 Years RankedSimpson Thacher is a prospering private equity practice with comprehensive expertise that spans traditional buyout funds and alternative assets, including real estate, distressed debt and credit. Unparalleled track record representing some of the largest private equity sponsors in mega fundraisings. Expertise in financial services, infrastructure and energy funds.
Band 2
2 Davis Polk & Wardwell LLPPrivate Equity: Fund Formation2025 | Band 2 | 5 Years RankedDavis Polk has a well-respected practice with notable experience of advising both sponsors and funds. Fields an experienced group of practitioners with longstanding practices in the market, combined with a stellar reputation in the related financial services sector. Noted for its track record of forming highly focused funds, including those investing in particular sectors or secondary fund interests.2 Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLPPrivate Equity: Fund Formation2025 | Band 2 | 5 Years RankedGibson, Dunn & Crutcher offers comprehensive services to fund managers, sponsors and investors in connection with fund formation and operational matters. Receives a high influx of secondaries mandates and is regularly called upon to assist with SEC enforcement matters. Advises in connection with multiple asset classes, including buyout, real estate and growth capital. Added strength in infrastructure, credit, secondary and co-investment funds.2 Latham & Watkins LLPPrivate Equity: Fund Formation2025 | Band 2 | 5 Years RankedThe Latham & Watkins team is expert in structuring all manner of private equity funds, with notable strengths pertaining to energy, power and infrastructure-focused vehicles. Trusted advisers to private equity sponsors long after the fund formation process, assisting with ongoing compliance, M&A and other corporate issues. Continues to enjoy success in attracting a number of major new clients across the USA, with notable depth in credit and debt funds.2 Proskauer Rose LLPPrivate Equity: Fund Formation2025 | Band 2 | 5 Years RankedProskauer Rose is an established name in the private equity and venture capital markets. The law firm is lauded for its work on behalf of sponsors, advising on transactions and fund formations which touch a broad range of industries. It boasts equal capabilities in buyout funds as those formed to invest in early-stage businesses. It has a strong international showing, with a noted presence in matters involving the European and Asian markets.
2 Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLPPrivate Equity: Fund Formation2025 | Band 2 | 5 Years RankedWeil, Gotshal & Manges is a choice destination for midmarket sponsors and larger asset managers seeking to raise mega private equity funds. Valued for its wide experience advising on the structuring of a variety of funds. Expertise devising a plethora of innovative private structures that span a diverse range of targets, from buyouts to real estate and infrastructure. A strong global practice enables the team to act for both US and foreign-based sponsors.
Band 3
3 AkinPrivate Equity: Fund Formation2025 | Band 3 | 5 Years RankedAkin counts a number of dominant investors and sponsors among its longstanding clientele and is noted for its acute insight into emerging market investment trends. Additionally able to assist fund managers with tax structures. Provides vital market perspective gained from representing investors in private equity and hedge vehicles.
3 GoodwinPrivate Equity: Fund Formation2025 | Band 3 | 5 Years RankedGoodwin has a respected asset management practice, which encompasses an assortment of private investment products, including private equity, venture capital and real estate funds. The team acts for a diverse client base of domestic and international funds of varying sizes. The law firm is valued for its advice across structuring, management and compliance issues.
3 Paul Hastings LLPPrivate Equity: Fund Formation2025 | Band 3 | 4 Years RankedPaul Hastings is recognized for its robust private equity team. The team regularly works on the formation, opening and closing of a range of highly valued fund types. The team is able to assist clients with cross-border matters and funds, including Europe and Asia-based funds. Its practitioners frequently support clients on both debt and equity funds. The group has significant experience advising in relation to real estate funds.3 Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLPPrivate Equity: Fund Formation2025 | Band 3 | 5 Years RankedWillkie Farr & Gallagher draws on resources in the firm's wider asset management team to provide comprehensive regulatory compliance and fund formation guidance to private equity fund managers large and small. Also retains an exclusive client roster of institutional investors and continues to attract new and diverse clients. Noted strength in the areas of energy and real estate funds.
Band 4
4 Clifford Chance US LLPPrivate Equity: Fund Formation2025 | Band 4 | 2 Years RankedClifford Chance boasts a prominent team in the space. Its practitioners are routinely called upon to provide counsel on the formation of a range of funds, including secondaries funds, real estate funds and credit funds. The team has additional experience of handling restructurings and SEC enforcement issues.4 Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLPPrivate Equity: Fund Formation2025 | Band 4 | 2 Years RankedCurtis, Mallet-Prevost's team is held in high regard for its strength in handling issues throughout the lifecycle of a fund, right from formation through to investment processes. The team has extensive experience of providing counsel on the formation of a range of funds, including ESG funds, funds-of-funds and venture capital funds. The practitioners are also adept at providing counsel on regulatory compliance.4 Day Pitney LLPPrivate Equity: Fund Formation2025 | Band 4 | 1 Years RankedDay Pitney garners recognition for its investment management and private funds group. The team caters to middle-market clients and offers expertise from their Florida and Miami offices. The law firm also caters to cross-border matters.
4 Dechert LLPPrivate Equity: Fund Formation2025 | Band 4 | 2 Years RankedDechert draws strength from its international presence to assist clients on a series of complex fund formations. The team has considerable strength in representing sponsors in the space. The practitioners are adept at providing counsel on the formation of buyout funds, close-end funds and funds-of-funds. The group is also routinely called upon to advise clients on private credit and venture capital funds.4 DLA Piper LLP (US)Private Equity: Fund Formation2025 | Band 4 | 5 Years RankedDLA Piper is a notably deep team able to call on fund formation experts across the country and internationally. Specific areas of strength include providing counsel on the structuring and formation of real estate and credit funds. The law firm also guides emerging and established managers on the formation of venture funds.
4 Greenberg Traurig, LLPPrivate Equity: Fund Formation2025 | Band 4 | 1 Years RankedGreenberg Traurig is recognized for its global private funds practice. The team is routinely called upon to represent fund sponsors, sovereign wealth funds and investment managers. The firm has significant expertise advising on cross-border matters.
4 Hogan Lovells US LLPPrivate Equity: Fund Formation2025 | Band 4 | 3 Years RankedHogan Lovells' team demonstrates its ability to advise clients on the formation of a wide spectrum of funds, including buyout and debt funds. The team has notable strength in advising clients in the real estate, healthcare and energy sectors. It has a significant client base consisting of sponsors and institutional investors, although its recognized for its high quality work on behalf of SBIC licensees and applicants. The practitioners also have extensive experience in handling issues in the secondaries space.
4 King & Spalding LLPPrivate Equity: Fund Formation2025 | Band 4 | 1 Years RankedKing & Spalding LLP garners recognition for its private funds practice. The law firm represents managers and sponsors across a broad spectrum of work including fund formation, secondaries and regulatory compliance. The team offers particular expertise in real estate funds.
4 LinklatersPrivate Equity: Fund Formation2025 | Band 4 | 4 Years RankedLinklaters has a broad team of practitioners known for its extensive work across the private equity space. The team is able to advise on a number of transactional issues including fund formation, mergers and acquisitions as well as regulatory and compliance matters. Linklaters boasts the capability to handle complex cross-border matters often involving European and Asia-based clients. The team frequently supports clients on equity, debt and growth opportunity funds.4 Mayer Brown LLPPrivate Equity: Fund Formation2025 | Band 4 | 3 Years RankedMayer Brown has a strong fund formation team that is held in high regard throughout the space. Its practitioners regularly advise clients on matters related to real estate, credit and insurance funds. The group has further experience of providing counsel on structuring and regulatory issues arising from the formation and financing of funds.4 McDermott Will & Emery LLPPrivate Equity: Fund Formation2025 | Band 4 | 3 Years RankedMcDermott Will & Emery is well regarded throughout the market for its ability to handle matters related to various funds, including real estate, secondary and buyout funds. The team has considerable experience of assisting on formations related to the healthcare space. Its practitioners are routinely called upon to handle fundraises on behalf of sponsors.4 Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLPPrivate Equity: Fund Formation2025 | Band 4 | 1 Years RankedThe private equity team at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius is held in high regard for is expertise in the market. The law firm excels in advising sponsors throughout the life cycle of a fund and across real estate, private credit and energy sectors. The team also garners recognition for their global expertise.
4 Morrison FoersterPrivate Equity: Fund Formation2025 | Band 4 | 2 Years RankedMorrison Foerster boasts considerable strength in assisting clients with the formation of venture capital and private equity funds. The groups clients include high profile institutional investors and sponsors. The practitioners have notable experience of handling the formation of infrastructure, real estate and credit funds, among others.4 Schulte Roth & Zabel LLPPrivate Equity: Fund Formation2025 | Band 4 | 5 Years RankedSchulte Roth & Zabel boasts a highly respected private equity group working in tandem with the firm's market-leading hedge funds practice to provide a seamless private funds offering. Particularly strong real estate funds offering with experience advising on the formation of highly focused vehicles in terms of jurisdiction and asset class. Similarly strong in the structuring of direct lending funds.4 Sidley Austin LLPPrivate Equity: Fund Formation2025 | Band 4 | 2 Years RankedSidley Austin's team is renowned for its ability to provide counsel on the formation of funds across an array of sectors, including mining, aviation and energy. The group also boasts strong cross-border capabilities. The practitioners have notable experience of assisting on the formation of secondary and buyout funds.
4 Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP & AffiliatesPrivate Equity: Fund Formation2025 | Band 4 | 5 Years RankedThe Skadden Arps team is adept at advising on a plethora of funds including buyout funds, funds of funds and sector-specific vehicles. Strong global presence allows the team to provide counsel on complex matters involving cross-border elements, such as master-feeder structures, funds of one and parallel fund structures.4 Winston & Strawn LLPPrivate Equity: Fund Formation2025 | Band 4 | 5 Years RankedWinston & Strawn boasts a well-respected practice combining strength in traditional buyout funds, with deep expertise in innovative strategies. Especially capable in the area of credit funds and special situations funds, with a track record of handling formations involving multiple jurisdictions.