Schulte Roth & Zabel announces the addition of Owen Schmidt as a partner in the Investment Management Group. Mr. Schmidt brings deep experience in private fund formation and compliance to SRZ’s market-leading funds practice.
Resident in the New York office, Mr. Schmidt joins the firm after spending almost seven years as a partner, general counsel and chief compliance officer at two large investment fund managers. Mr. 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.
A homecoming for Mr. Schmidt, he 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,” said 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 offering for clients,” said 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,” commented David Nissenbaum, SRZ partner and co-head of the Investment Management Group.
SRZ is one of the most sought-after law firms for the world’s leading private investment funds. In March 2020, SRZ was again ranked the #1 onshore hedge fund law firm based on AUM by HFR’s annual Market Microstructure Hedge Fund Industry Report. Year after year, SRZ lawyers advise on many of the largest and high-profile launches and start-ups in the industry.
“I’m energized 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,” said Mr. Schmidt. who holds a J.D. from Fordham University School of Law and a B.S. 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.