Clifford Chance announces that senior private funds attorney Susan Burkhardt will join the Firm's Global Funds and Investment Management team as a partner in New York on May 1.
Burkhardt brings significant experience as a private funds attorney. In addition to her managing director role at Apollo Global Management, she also held positions at two other large US investment managers, the DE Shaw Group and GSO Capital Partners (now Blackstone Credit). Her arrival reflects the firm's continued global focus on Financial Investors, including private equity firms and asset managers. This is also the second time in recent years that Clifford Chance has had a former client join in the US, having also hired Sharis Pozen, former Vice President of Global Competition Law and Policy at GE, to co-chair its Global Antitrust Group.
Burkhardt's practice focuses on the formation of and ongoing advice to various types of private investment funds, accounts and structures across strategies, with a primary focus on credit and private equity. Over the course of her career she has advised on the legal and commercial aspects of new fund product launches, including "funds of one", separately managed accounts, flagship and overflow accounts, and customized and strategic multi-strategy arrangements, including developing of terms, addressing marketability considerations, conducting cost-benefit analyses, and managing structuring issues, product documentation, and negotiations with leading institutional investors across the globe.
Global Managing Partner Matthew Layton offers, "We are delighted to welcome Susan to our expanding Global Funds team. Her experience in the US working in-house, including with valued clients of the firm, means she brings with her critical insight as to how we can best support stakeholders in the sector."
US Funds Partner Michael Sabin comments, "We are optimistic for the year ahead as our clients, in particular in the credit and private equity space, continue to seek out opportunities for growth in the constantly changing global markets. Susan has worked with many of our colleagues previously, and we are all very excited to reconnect and demonstrate the benefits of a truly global team."
Burkhardt adds, "To be returning to private practice with a firm of Clifford Chance's caliber is wonderful. The team is positioned at the top end of the market, and known to advise on the leading mandates in the industry. I'm looking forward to bringing my in-house experience to the team, and confident we'll continue the exceptional momentum the team has built across the globe."
Burkhardt's arrival follows the announcement that London Regulatory Funds Partner Paul Ellison will join the firm in May. The firm also recently appointed Funds Partner Kai-Niklas Schneider to a new role on the firm's top strategic decision body – the Executive Leadership Group.