Schulte Roth & Zabel (SRZ), a law firm focused on the private investment funds sector, has appointed Owen Schmidt as a partner in its Investment Management Group. Schmidt brings deep experience in private fund formation and compliance to SRZ’s funds practice.
Resident in the New York office, Schmidt joins the firm after spending almost seven years as a partner, general counsel and chief compliance officer at two large investment fund managers. Schmidt led the legal department at Falcon Edge Capital and at Valinor Management, where he was responsible for the formation and operation of credit, hedge and private equity funds and co-investment vehicles as well as the firms’ compliance programs.
The appointment is a homecoming for Schmidt who launched his career at SRZ in 2007, first as a summer associate then as an associate working in both the firm’s New York and London offices.
“We are thrilled to welcome Owen back to SRZ. Our private funds practice is unparalleled, and Owen’s addition speaks to our strategy of building on our core strengths,” says Marc Elovitz, SRZ co-managing partner and chair of the Investment Management Regulatory & Compliance Group.
“We have one of the largest groups of private fund lawyers of any firm. Owen is an outstanding lawyer who will further deepen our bench and enrich our offerings for clients,” says Stephanie Breslow, SRZ partner and co-head of the Investment Management Group.
“We continue to grow our funds practice in depth and size. Owen’s experience advising some of the most talented fund managers will bring even more expertise to our robust investment management practice,” adds David Nissenbaum, SRZ partner and co-head of the Investment Management Group.
“I’m energised to join and help further grow SRZ’s already premier funds practice. These are some of the most highly regarded lawyers in the industry, advising many of the world’s largest private funds. I’m very excited to be back,” says Schmidt, who holds a JD from Fordham University School of Law and a BS from the University of Arizona. He is a member of the American Bar Association and the New York City Bar Association, where he serves on the Private Investment Funds Committee.
A pioneer in the alternative investment management industry, SRZ has been advising private funds for more than 50 years. The lawyers have across-the-board expertise in all strategies, including credit and direct lending funds, hedge, private equity, CLOs, specialty finance, long/short equity, global macro, activist, blockchain technology, digital assets, litigation finance, LBO, distressed, real estate and venture, among others. SRZ has the largest and most comprehensive regulatory and compliance practice in the asset management space. The lawyers have specialised expertise on the issues private fund managers face in setting up, running and growing their businesses.
