Paul Hastings Adds Prominent Funds Partner in New York

In a move that further strengthens the firm’s premier global funds platform and expands its broader private funds capabilities, Paul Hastings announced today the addition of elite investment funds lawyer Amanda Persaud as a partner and co-chair of Investment Funds & Private Capital, based in New York.

Recognized by Chambers as among the top practitioners of her generation and joining from the Band 1-ranked funds practice at Ropes & Gray, Persaud primarily advises private equity sponsors across the full lifecycle of their investments. Her practice focuses on private equity and private credit fund formation – including direct lending and distressed and opportunistic strategies – as well as infrastructure, real estate and hedge funds. Persaud’s experience extends to asset manager strategic transactions, including M&A, GP stakes transactions, succession planning, management buyouts, preferred equity structures, joint ventures and spin-outs.

“Adding premier talent of Amanda’s pedigree and reputation continues the strong momentum of our funds practice and further positions us to represent asset managers holistically on their most important and complex matters from fund formations to deals,” said firm Chair Frank Lopez. “Amanda’s clients and expertise in private funds are highly synergistic with our existing client base and capabilities and will be instrumental to helping our funds platform continue to take market share as the funds space continues to evolve and mature.”

Persaud’s clients have included Acadia Infrastructure Capital, Apollo Global Management, Ashe Capital Management, Balbec Capital/Starwood Capital Group, Biospring Partners, Blackstone Inc., Bluestone Equity Partners, Carlyle, Charlesbank Capital Partners, CI Capital Partners, Declaration Partners, Freeman Spogli, Hilco Global, Houlihan Lokey, Invesco, KKR & Co Inc, Monomoy Capital Partners, Muzinich & Co., New Mountain Capital, PCCP, PEAL Capital, Snowhawk, The Vistria Group, Woodline Partners and Wynnchurch Capital. 

Persaud is the sixth partner this year to join Paul Hastings’ funds team. Since the start of 2023, 11 other partners, including laterals from Band 1-ranked firms Paul Weiss and Kirkland & Ellis, have joined, driving practice revenue growth of over 70% in that span.

“Given the strong client synergies and complementary practice offerings, Paul Hastings’ global funds platform presents an ideal opportunity for us to expand our work across a broader spectrum of fund strategies,” said Persaud. “I look forward to collaborating with my new colleagues to best serve and grow the firm’s roster of premier asset manager clients.” 

Paul Hastings advises the world’s most sophisticated asset managers, sponsors and institutional investors, including Apollo Global Management, Ares Management Corporation, Atlas Holdings, Barings, Blackstone Inc., Brookfield Corporation, Carlyle, Charlesbank Capital Partners, EQT Group, Fortress Investment Group, Francisco Partners, Goldman Sachs Asset Management, Great Hill Partners, H.I.G. Capital, ICG, Jefferies, KKR & Co Inc, Morgan Stanley Capital Partners, New York Life, Nuveen, Pantheon, PGIM, Related Funds Management LLC, Sixth Street Partners, STG and TPG.

Consistently ranked among the top practices in global league tables, and recently recognized as the runner-up for Law Firm of the Year – Fund Formation: Global by Private Debt Investor, Paul Hastings’ Investment Funds & Private Capital Group provides market-leading counsel across fund formation, tax, and regulatory and compliance matters.

About Paul Hastings

With widely recognized elite teams across 17 core practices, Paul Hastings is a premier law firm with a culture of excellence focused on providing intellectual capital and superior execution globally to the world’s leading investment banks, asset managers and corporations.