David Nissenbaum is co-head of the Investment Management Group. He primarily represents institutional and entrepreneurial investment managers, financial services firms and private investment funds in all aspects of their businesses. David’s expertise spans the alternative investment fund sector. He is known for his extensive knowledge of market terms, and for combining legal expertise with a commercial approach to evaluating risks and handling client negotiations.
For many years, David has been named a “Leader in His Field” by Chambers USA and Chambers Global. He is ranked in Band 1 by Chambers USA for his work in hedge funds. Peers note that David is “considered one of the top fund lawyers around, and deservedly so.” He is “praised by clients for his unwavering commitment,” and is described as “very engaged, thorough, thoughtful and extremely useful as our quarterback.”
David advises a long and diverse list of successful clients. He has extensive experience structuring and advising credit, hedge, private equity, hybrid, distressed investing, activist and energy funds, co-investments, funds of funds, multi-manager platforms and co-investment platforms. David has been at the leading edge of industry developments in “Upper Tier” management company partnerships, compensation plans and succession plans, seed and strategic investments and spinoffs of investment teams. Working with his Regulatory & Compliance colleagues at SRZ, who themselves are recognized leaders in their specialties, his work includes counseling clients on finding practical solutions to regulatory and compliance requirements, including the Volcker Rule, and managing conflicts of interest.
David has been recognized as a key player in private fund formation by The International Who’s Who of Private Funds Lawyers, PLC Cross-border Private Equity Handbook, The Legal 500 US, and Expert Guide to the World’s Leading Banking, Finance and Transactional Law Lawyers. He is a past member of the Advisory Board of The Financial Executives Alliance and the Banking Law Committee of the New York City Bar Association. Works he has authored or co-authored include the chapter “Management Company Structures and Terms” in Hedge Funds: Formation, Operation and Regulation, published by Full Court Press; “Just Like Starting Over: A Blueprint for the New Wall Street Firm,” published by The Deal; and “Succession Planning,” published by SRZ. A sought-after speaker, David has spoken at conferences and seminars on a range of topics, including fundraising, merchant bank structures, managing conflicts of interest, liquidity events, credit and lending funds and co-investment vehicles.
