Meet the Legal Rising Stars of 2023 (L-Z)

Daniel Lloyd, 39
Partner, London,
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett’s Daniel Lloyd has had a busy few years, having advised on global fundraisings totaling more than €30 billion since his elevation to the firm’s partnership in 2020. The London-based lawyer – who is described by the firm as being “a critical member” of the firm’s private funds practice – advised CVC Capital Partners on raising two of its central funds in 2020, including the firm’s €21.25 billion eighth fund and its Asia V fund, which raised $4.5 billion. Bridgepoint turned to Lloyd for advice on the funds aspects of its 2021 initial public offering – the first listing of a private equity firm on the London Stock Exchange since 1994. Lloyd also advised Astorg on a GP-led secondaries process for investor services group IQ-EQ for €1.3 billion, including follow-on capital, and guided the firm on the formation of its inaugural mid-cap fund, Astorg Mid-Cap, which raised more than €1.25 billion at its close in 2022.

Julia Mandich, 36
Assistant general counsel
London, Barings

Described invariably by peers as “a brilliant role model” and “a key issue spotter and quick problem solver,” Barings’ assistant general counsel Julia Mandich has a stellar market reputation as an advocate for creditors. Since joining Barings in 2020, Mandich has become “a go-to presence” within the firm, according to a colleague. She has taken responsibility across several aspects of the business including navigating regulatory and jurisdictional changes, managing external counsel relationships and developing working groups for new market initiatives, such as sustainability-linked loans. She is credited by peers as promoting the cause for increased diversity in private markets alongside her extensive mentoring work, having launched an industry group for networking among in-house counsel at private credit institutions.

Jessica Marlin, 39
Partner, New York
Ropes & Gray

Ropes & Gray partner Jessica Marlin is described by the firm as a rising star for “her ability to tackle complex subjects and unique products, as well as her unwavering dedication to clients” across a range of credit funds, hedge funds, private equity funds and secondaries transactions. Her recent highlights include guiding Audax Private Debt on raising its second direct lending fund, Audax Direct Lending Solutions Fund II, which closed on $3 billion in capital commitments in early 2023 ahead of its $2.25 billion target. Marlin also represented Partners Group in 2022 as lead investor on the firm’s $200 million commitment to a project recapitalizing certain renewable and hybrid energy assets.

Eve Mrozek, 35
Partner, New York
Gibson Dunn & Crutcher

Gibson Dunn & Crutcher’s Eve Mrozek advises private fund managers on structuring and forming private equity and real estate funds, as well as capital-raising matters. Her recent mandates include advising Oak Street Real Estate Capital in the formation and operation of its first open-end fund, and its closed-end fifth flagship triple-net-lease fund, which held its final close in 2021 on around $2.5 billion of commitments. She also advised real estate private equity firm EQT Exeter on the formation of three funds: EQT Exeter Industrial Value Fund VI, which raised around $4.76 billion; EQT Exeter Industrial Core-Plus Fund IV, which closed on commitments of $3 billion; and EQT Office Value Fund II, which raised approximately $700 million.

Mathan Navaratnam, 37
Partner, London
Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft

Recently promoted to the Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft partnership, Mathan Navaratnam’s experience spans the range of fund finance products, including capital call lines, NAV facilities, hybrid facilities, GP and executive support facilities, and secondary leverage products. He recently advised a syndicate of lenders on implementing a multi-billion, multi-tranched, ESG-linked €4 billion revolving credit facility for a global private equity firm, and is considered a go-to fund finance lawyer for clients including StepStone Group, Shanghai Pudong Development Bank, UBS, Deutsche Bank Wealth and JP Morgan Wealth, who are understood to have specifically requested that he leads on their transactions. Navaratnam is also credited with “putting diversity at the heart” of Cadwalader’s fund finance practice in London.

Oliver Prakash-Jenkins, 35
Partner, New York
Latham & Watkins

New York-based partner Oliver Prakash-Jenkins serves as the go-to funds lawyer for Searchlight Capital Partners, having been a lead associate on the Latham & Watkins team advising Searchlight on raising its $3.4 billion third fund, which took place prior to his elevation to the partnership earlier this year. Prakash-Jenkins has advised Partners Group on over 35 transactions in the last two years spanning primary investments, co-investments, GP-led continuation funds, traditional secondaries offerings and stapled tender offers, representing total deal values and commitments of more than $15 billion, according to the firm. He also advised infrastruture investor American Triple I on fundraising matters relating to its connection with JFK Millennium Partners’ $4.2 billion deal to develop the new terminal six at JFK International Airport in New York.

John Rife, 39
Partner, London 
Debevoise & Plimpton

John Rife advises some of Debevoise & Plimpton’s largest funds clients, including Credit Suisse, LGT Capital Partners, Pantheon Ventures, LeapFrog Investments, Tishman Speyer and HarbourVest Partners. He has maintained an advisory relationship with Exponent Private Equity and Glendower Capital for nearly his entire career, and is described as having cultivated long-term loyalty in major clients. “We truly believe there’s no lawyer in the market like John,” says one client of his expertise, which spans the breadth of fundraising, GP-led transactions, preferred equity deals, and anchor investor arrangements. Another client adds: “John is truly one of the best deal lawyers anywhere – experienced, intelligent and extremely adept with handling complex matters.”

Nathalie Sadler, 35
Partner, London
Dechert

Nathalie Sadler has swiftly risen through the ranks at Dechert, having developed strong relationships with firms such as Barings and Pemberton Capital Advisors. She has developed a niche for advising on global employee co-investment funds, which requires an understanding of the regulatory and tax position of employees investing all over the world. She recently advised a leading real estate investment manager on its ESG-focused global fund, as well as its employee investment program. The fund will invest in real estate with the aim of setting each asset on a net-zero carbon pathway with ancillary private equity and carbon credit investments, while the employee co-investment program now has over 50 investing classes.

Sophie Smith, 34
Counsel
London, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton

Since joining Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton from Kirkland & Ellis in January 2022, Sophie Smith is credited with having “sparked a transformation of the London office’s private investment funds practice.” She has helped the team win new sponsor clients, including Ares Management, Vedra Partners and two other large investors. According to the firm, Smith has also been pivotal in expanding the firm’s relationships with its existing funds clients, with an increasing number of clients using the London office for their European work. The firm describes Smith as “energetic, inspirational and always positive,” adding that she is recognized as “a born leader” by both clients and colleagues, with Smith also having taken on additional mentoring responsibilities for younger peers.

Conrad van Loggerenberg, 39
Partner, New York
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison

Conrad van Loggerenberg counts General Atlantic, Oak Hill Advisors, Blackstone, Silver Point, Fortress, and Värde Partners among his key clients. A partner in the New York office of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, he has raised tens of billions of dollars for some of the largest firms in the marketplace. In 2022, van Loggerenberg led the formation and fundraising for General Atlantic’s inaugural BeyondNetZero fund, a $4 billion private equity platform focused on investments in climate solutions. A graduate of South Africa’s Nelson Mandela University, Conrad serves on the fundraising committee of Ubuntu Pathways, a South African organization providing healthcare and education to impoverished communities.