NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Schulte Roth & Zabel (SRZ) is pleased to announce the election of Andrew J. Fadale, F. Xavier Kowalski and Kara A. Kuchar as partners. The firm also announces the promotion of Patrick Dundas, Matthew J. Gruenberg, Derek N. Lacarrubba, Anthony Lombardi, Jason T. Mitchell, Lawrence P. Natke, Melissa J. Sandak and Lee Smith to special counsel. The promotions became effective on Jan. 1, 2019.
Mr. Fadale, Mr. Kowalski, Ms. Kuchar, Mr. Dundas, Mr. Gruenberg, Mr. Lacarrubba, Mr. Natke and Ms. Sandak are resident in the firm’s New York office. Mr. Mitchell is in the Washington, DC office, and Mr. Lombardi and Mr. Smith are in the London office.
“We are delighted to recognize these talented lawyers. They have demonstrated market-leading expertise and a commitment to exceptional client service,” said Alan S. Waldenberg, chair of the firm’s Executive Committee.
Partners
Andrew J. Fadale, a partner in the M&A and Securities Group, practices primarily in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, restructuring transactions and control and non-control investments. He also counsels clients in general corporate law matters. Mr. Fadale’s experience includes transactions across multiple industries and structures, including representing private equity buyers and sellers in connection with investments in the automotive, energy, financial services, manufacturing and consumer retail sectors. Mr. Fadale earned his J.D. from Washington and Lee University School of Law and his B.S. from University of Florida.
F. Xavier Kowalski, a partner in the M&A and Securities Group, represents issuers, sponsors and investment banks in initial public offerings, high-yield financings, equity-linked financings, and other domestic and international capital markets transactions. He also counsels clients in general corporate and securities law matters. Mr. Kowalski’s practice includes a broad range of cross-border transactions across a number of targeted industries, including health care, media and entertainment, and technology. He also brings significant experience in private equity and leveraged finance transactions. Mr. Kowalski earned his J.D. from University of Virginia School of Law and his B.S. from University of Florida.
Kara A. Kuchar, a partner in the Bank Regulatory Group, concentrates her practice on the regulation of financial services providers, and specifically, the regulation of money services businesses, payment processors, virtual currency companies and fintech companies. She represents and advises leading money transmitters, payment processors and private equity firms in transactional and regulatory matters associated with payments products and services, including remittance transfers, prepaid access and internet- and mobile-based payment products and services. In addition, Ms. Kuchar has advised a number of non-bank financial service providers. She earned her J.D. from University of Connecticut School of Law and her B.A., with honors, from Trinity College.
Special Counsel
Patrick Dundas serves as the knowledge management (“KM”) special counsel for the Investment Management Group. In this role, Mr. Dundas collaborates with attorneys and firm business departments to establish and maintain systems and processes that enable the firm to provide prompt client service of the highest quality by harnessing the collective knowledge of the firm for the benefit of the firm’s clients. Mr. Dundas earned his J.D., cum laude, from Fordham University School of Law and his B.F.A., with honors, from New York University, Tisch School of the Arts.
Matthew J. Gruenberg, a special counsel in the M&A and Securities Group, practices primarily in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, restructuring transactions and control and non-control equity investments. His experience includes transactions across multiple industries and structures, including representing private equity buyers and sellers in connection with investments in the government contracting, technology, financial services, manufacturing and consumer retail sectors. Mr. Gruenberg earned his J.D. from The George Washington University Law School and his B.A. from Emory University, where he was Phi Beta Kappa.
Derek N. Lacarrubba, a special counsel in the Broker-Dealer Regulatory & Enforcement Group, advises broker-dealers and ATSs on SEC and SRO rules and represents them in regulatory investigations and enforcement actions. Drawing on his experience as an auditor, risk consultant and member of the in-house counsel team at a bulge bracket investment bank, Mr. Lacarrubba’s practice focuses on advising sell-side firms on equities trading and reporting practices. He also advises buy-side institutions with respect to marketplace rules, such as Regulation SHO and Regulation M. Mr. Lacarrubba earned his J.D. from University of Virginia School of Law and his B.S. from University of Delaware.
Anthony Lombardi, a special counsel in the Structured Finance & Derivatives Group, advises hedge fund, bank and other finance clients in connection with special situations, distressed investments, structured products, general corporate transactions and alternative finance transactions. His practice focuses on (i) finance transactions, including asset-backed finance, NAV-based facilities, capital call/subscription facilities and hybrid facilities; (ii) the purchase and sale of European, U.S. and emerging markets distressed assets, including bank debt and claims under the Loan Market Association secondary trading documents; and (iii) the structuring and negotiation of derivative transactions, including prime brokerage agreements. Mr. Lombardi earned his LPC from City University Inns of Court School of Law and his LL.B. from University of Sussex.
Jason T. Mitchell, a special counsel in the Litigation Group, focuses his practice in securities litigation matters, including investigations and enforcement actions by the SEC and other regulatory authorities and private securities litigation, on behalf of public and private companies, financial services industry clients, including funds and broker-dealers, and their directors, officers, managers and employees. He is also experienced in other complex commercial litigation matters, including false claims act litigation, bankruptcy-related litigation, and shareholders’ rights litigation. Mr. Mitchell earned his J.D. from New York University School of Law and his B.A. from Emory University, where he was Phi Beta Kappa.
Lawrence P. Natke, a special counsel in the M&A and Securities Group, practices primarily in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, alternative asset management transactional matters, leveraged buyouts and general corporate law matters. His experience includes transactions across multiple industries, including structuring control and non-control investments in alternative asset managers and representing private equity buyers and sellers in connection with investments in the financial services sectors. Mr. Natke earned his J.D. from the Georgetown University Law Center and his B.A. from the College of William & Mary.
Melissa J. Sandak, a special counsel in the Employment & Employee Benefits Group, focuses her practice on all aspects of ERISA and Internal Revenue Code compliance for pension, health and welfare plans, and the ERISA considerations for investors in private equity and hedge funds. Specifically, she advises clients on qualified plan design, administration and regulatory compliance. Ms. Sandak also counsels private equity and hedge funds with respect to the ERISA aspects of fund formation. She earned her LL.M. in taxation from New York University School of Law, her J.D. from Cornell Law School and her A.B., with honors, and her M.A. from Brown University.
Lee Smith, a special counsel in the Investment Management Group, focuses his practice on investment funds. He advises on the establishment, restructuring and management of hedge funds and hybrid funds and also provides general corporate and U.K. regulatory advice. Mr. Smith earned his LPC from BPP Law School and his LL.B. from the London School of Economics.
About Schulte Roth & Zabel
Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP (www.srz.com) is a full-service law firm with offices in New York, Washington, DC and London. As one of the leading law firms serving the financial services industry, the firm regularly advises clients on corporate and transactional matters and provides counsel on regulatory, compliance, enforcement and investigative issues. The firm’s practices include: bank regulatory; bankruptcy & creditors’ rights litigation; blockchain technology & digital assets; broker-dealer regulatory & enforcement; business reorganization; complex commercial litigation; cybersecurity; distressed debt & claims trading; distressed investing; education law; employment & employee benefits; energy; environmental; finance; financial institutions; hedge funds; individual client services; insurance; intellectual property, sourcing & technology; investment management; litigation; litigation finance; mergers & acquisitions; PIPEs; private equity; real estate; real estate capital markets & REITs; real estate litigation; regulated funds; regulatory & compliance; securities & capital markets; securities enforcement; securities litigation; securitization; shareholder activism; structured finance & derivatives; tax; and white collar defense & government investigations.
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