Paul Hastings Boosts Global Funds Platform With New York Partner From Band 1 Practice

Continuing to strengthen its premier global funds platform and ability to advise the world’s leading asset managers on their most significant transactions, Paul Hastings LLP today announced that Rachel Shepardson has joined the firm as a partner in New York.

Arriving from the Chambers Band 1-ranked practice at Paul, Weiss, Shepardson brings more than a decade of experience representing major fund sponsors across a variety of investment strategies, including private equity, credit, real estate and infrastructure funds. She advises fund managers on the formation of a broad range of fund structures, including open-ended and closed-ended funds, evergreen structures, separately managed accounts and co-investment vehicles. Additionally, Shepardson routinely counsels clients on upper-tier matters such as seeding arrangements, management company M&A and general partner stake transactions, as well as related regulatory considerations. Legal 500 has identified her as a key lawyer for PE funds, including venture capital.

“Continuing to build a premier funds platform is a strategic priority of the firm, and Rachel’s arrival strengthens our industry-recognized global practice,” said firm Chair Frank Lopez. “We have an incredibly deep and prestigious list of asset manager clients and believe that we are a fertile ground for premier talent like Rachel to expand market share in the funds space.”

Shepardson’s clients have included Apollo Global Management, Arc Capital Management, Brinley Partners, Catalio Capital Management, General Atlantic, Trio Investment Group and Twin Point Capital. Representative matters include advising Oak Hill Advisors on the formation and $17.7 billion fundraising for OHA Senior Private Lending Fund and Brinley Partners, an alternative asset manager specializing in private credit, on a $4 billion commitment as part of a strategic partnership with a leading U.S. insurance company.

Shepardson is the fifth partner to join Paul Hastings’ Investment Funds & Private Capital practice this year following the recent additions of Joshua Cohen in Chicago, Serge Todorovich and Rachael Hashmall in New York, and David Richardson in London.

Paul Hastings advises the world’s most sophisticated asset managers, sponsors and institutional investors, including Apollo Global Management, Ares, Atlas, Blackstone, Brookfield, Carlyle, Charlesbank Capital Partners, EQT, Fortress, Francisco Partners, Goldman Sachs Asset Management, Great Hill, H.I.G., KKR, Morgan Stanley Capital Partners, Sixth Street Partners, Symphony Technology Group and TPG.

Consistently ranked among the top legal advisers in global league tables, including Private Equity Real Estate and Private Debt Investor, which recently recognized Paul Hastings as the runner-up for Law Firm of the Year – Fund Formation: Global in its annual awards, the group provides market-leading counsel across fund formation, tax, and regulatory and compliance matters.

“Paul Hastings has a robust global funds platform with a deep and growing bench of premier talent and a broad base of asset manager clients to match,” said Shepardson. “I look forward to delivering best-in-class counsel to companies in the investment funds space alongside my new colleagues and collaborating with the firm’s strong, synergistic practices.”

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.