Debevoise & Plimpton LLP today announced that Jennifer R. Graff, a highly regarded funds lawyer, has joined the firm’s New York office as a counsel and member of the Funds/Investment Management Group. Ms. Graff’s practice will focus on the formation, management and organization of private investment funds.
Ms. Graff joins Debevoise from an international law firm, where she counseled fund managers on a wide range of complex matters for a variety of fund offerings, including private equity, hedge and hybrid funds. Through the course of her career, she has successfully navigated clients through seed capital transactions and investment management M&A issues; developed bespoke agreements with complex economics; established and advised on “upper-tier” arrangements; and led SEC exam preparations.
The arrival of Ms. Graff marks the second significant counsel addition to Debevoise’s growing Funds/Investment Management Group in as many weeks. Matt Dickman, a leading funds lawyer with significant experience in GP stake transactions, joined the firm’s London team earlier this month. His arrival follows the additions of Patricia Volhard and Simon Witney to the firm’s global team last year.
“We are thrilled to welcome Jenny to Debevoise,” said David J. Schwartz, partner and head of the Funds/Investment Management Group. “Debevoise continues to be a leading choice for investment managers seeking to take advantage of the market’s robust fundraising environment—we’re confident that Jenny’s deep experience guiding clients through an array of unique fund formations will only further strengthen our team.”
“The challenges facing investment managers today are more complex than ever, requiring an unrivaled level of financial and legal sophistication. The addition of Jenny’s experience and knowledge of these emerging market issues will complement our global team well,” added Mr. Schwartz.
“I’m excited to join the Debevoise team, particularly because of the extraordinary breadth and market prominence of its funds practice,” said Ms. Graff. “I’m very much looking forward to working alongside such a talented, collaborative group of lawyers.”
Ms. Graff received her J.D. cum laude from Harvard Law School and served as an editor for the Harvard Journal of Law and Technology. She earned an A.B. magna cum laude from Harvard University.
One of the largest and most diverse practices of its kind, Debevoise’s Funds/Investment Management Group has advised sponsors of, or investors in, more than 2,100 private investment funds with committed capital of well over $2.6 trillion. With a global network of lawyers and deep international experience, the practice counsels across the entire life cycle of a fund—covering organization and economic arrangements for sponsors, fund formation, downstream transactions, exits, firm and fund restructurings, buy-side work, secondaries and wind downs. The team remains at the cutting edge of market developments, and responds quickly to, and even anticipates changes in, the market, offering clients a significant competitive advantage.
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Debevoise & Plimpton LLP is a premier law firm with market-leading practices, a global perspective and strong New York roots. We deliver effective solutions to our clients’ most important legal challenges, applying clear commercial judgment and a distinctively collaborative approach.