Finn Dixon & Herling LLP (FDH) has announced that partner Claire Stevens has been named Chair of the firm’s Investment Management practice. In her new leadership role, Stevens will guide the continued development of the practice and its work advising investment managers, private fund sponsors, and investors across the full lifecycle of their businesses.
Stevens, who has been with Finn Dixon for 11 years, advises investment advisers on capital raising and regulatory matters, with a particular focus on the formation of private equity, venture capital, and hedge funds. Her practice spans private fund and special purpose vehicle formation, fundraising and investor negotiations, investment adviser registration and ongoing regulatory compliance, regulatory examinations and investigations, and investment management and sub-advisory arrangements. She also represents institutional investors, family offices, and funds-of-funds in connection with investments and other transactional matters.
“Claire brings a combination of technical knowledge, sound judgment, creative problem-solving, and a deep understanding of the businesses and legal needs of our investment management clients,” said Christopher Craig, Managing Partner of FDH. “She has been an integral part of this practice since joining the firm and has developed strong relationships with clients and colleagues. We are confident that under her leadership, the group will continue to thrive and serve our clients’ evolving needs.”
FDH’s Investment Management practice advises sponsors throughout the lifecycle of private funds, from initial structuring and fundraising through ongoing operations, regulatory matters and ultimately exit. The team works with sponsors across a broad range of investment strategies and represents both established managers and emerging firms, including sponsors of funds ranging from first-time vehicles with less than $25 million in assets under management to flagship funds with billions of dollars in net asset value.
The practice advises clients on fund structuring and formation, market terms, offering and organizational documents, investor negotiations and side letters, management company and general partner arrangements, investment adviser registration and compliance, and ongoing governance and regulatory matters. The group works closely with FDH attorneys across the firm, including its Tax, Debt Finance, Employment and Bankruptcy practices, to provide coordinated advice as clients’ businesses and investment platforms grow.
“I am excited to take on this role and to help lead the next chapter of our Investment Management practice,” said Stevens. “Our group has always been focused on understanding our clients’ businesses, not simply the legal issues in front of them. As the private funds market continues to evolve, we see significant opportunities to build on that approach, deepen our existing relationships, and expand the ways in which we support sponsors and investors.”
Looking Ahead
Under Stevens’ leadership, FDH will continue to expand its Investment Management practice, advising clients on fund launches, fundraising, regulatory matters, secondaries and continuation vehicles, co-investments, and bespoke investment structures. The group also advises family offices, sponsors, and institutional investors across private equity, private credit, and venture capital.
The practice is focused on navigating an evolving private funds market, including increasingly sophisticated transaction structures, changing investor expectations, and a challenging fundraising environment. Stevens’ appointment reflects FDH’s broader focus on strengthening the practice and developing its next generation of leadership.
Claire Stevens is a partner at Finn Dixon & Herling LLP. She advises investment advisers in connection with capital raising and regulatory matters and focuses on the formation of private equity, venture capital, and hedge funds. She also represents institutional investors, family offices, and funds-of-funds in transactional matters. She is co-chair of the firm’s Women’s Initiative Network. Stevens earned her J.D. from Fordham University School of Law, where she was a member of the Fordham Law Review, and her B.S., magna cum laude, from Marist College.
Founded in 1987, Finn Dixon & Herling is a U.S. law firm advising on private equity, M&A, private funds, complex litigation, and government investigations, with a focus on middle-market transactions and partner-led legal services.
