Warburg Pincus appoints general counsel

Robert Knauss has been named general counsel at Warburg Pincus, the fifth largest private equity firm in the world, according to the PEI 300. 

Knauss was previously a corporate partner at California-based law firm Munger, Tolles & Olson where he focused primarily on mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance and securities and private equity. His previous private equity clients include distressed investor Oaktree Capital Management, but it is understand that Knauss did not have a working relationship with Warburg prior to the appointment.

Based in the firm’s New York office, Knauss will oversee the firm’s legal and regulatory matters and will join Warburg’s executive management group.

He replaces Scott Arenare, who is leaving the firm after fifteen years of service to pursue “a new business opportunity”, Warburg said in a statement. The firm declined to provide further details. 

“[Knauss] is a talented lawyer who brings to the firm a tremendous amount of relevant experience,” Joseph Landy, co-chief executive officer of Warburg Pincus, said in the statement.