Sarah Davidoff
Partner
Sarah Davidoff is a partner in Ropes & Gray’s market-leading asset management group. For more than 25 years, she has counseled the world’s largest and most prominent global alternative asset managers on all aspects of raising and operating private funds. Sarah is particularly known for her ability to serve as a strategic thought partner, helping clients launch novel hybrid, growth equity, credit and venture capital funds.
A pioneer, Sarah helped launch one of the first hybrid funds a decade and a half ago. Since then, she has continued to partner with clients to develop innovative funds and navigate a complex and evolving regulatory and compliance landscape. Sarah has received numerous accolades for her work on behalf of clients.
Clients value Sarah’s creativity in coming up with solutions that support their economic goals and liquidity profiles, as well as her deep understanding of investor negotiation dynamics. Feedback in Chambers USA also highlights that she is “a good counselor, crisis manager and solution-oriented lawyer.”
Sarah is very involved with the broader private funds community and speaks frequently at conferences, forums and seminars. She is also deeply committed to giving back through community service. Sarah serves on the boards of arts nonprofit A BroaderWay and the NYU Law Alumni Association, and volunteers with Food Bank For New York City.
Publications
- Profiled, “50 Leading Women in Hedge Funds 2019,” The Hedge Fund Journal (September 16, 2019)
- Profiled, “Crytptocurrency, Blockchain and Fintech Trailblazers,” The National Law Journal (September 2018)
- Quoted, “5 Firms Make It Back Onto GCs' Most Adored List,” Law360 (December 9, 2015)
- Co-author, Sweet & Maxwell, “International Series Investment Funds,” (Thomson Reuters) 3rd Edition
- Co-author, PLC Investment Funds Handbook – United States, Country Q&A (2015)
Presentations
- Panelist, “Human Capital Considerations of Private Investing vs. Public,” MFA Human Capital Forum (May 12, 2022)
- Panelist, “Managing Hybrids and Multiple Fund Structures: Managing Conflicts, Allocation, and Other Complexity Challenges,” GAIM Ops Cayman (April 26, 2022)
- Speaker, Fintech: The Evolving Ecosystem (September 12, 2019)
- Panelist, “Challenges of operating across public and private funds: conflicts, side pocket fees and allocation, efficient operations etc.,” GAIM Ops Cayman (April 30, 2019)
- Speaker, “Hedge Funds: Looking into a Crystal Ball,” Maples Investment Funds Forum (February 8, 2019)
- Speaker, “Launching & Running a Cryptocurrency Fund,” CoinAlts Fund Symposium (April 19, 2018)
- Speaker, “Funds in Crisis: When the Regulator Calls,” Maples Investment Funds Forum (February 23, 2017)
- Panelist, “A View From Washington”, SIFMA Private Funds Roundtable (February 8, 2017)
- Moderator, “3 CCOs and a Prosecutor: The Next Frontier In Implementing, Managing And Reacting To The Demands Of Operating An Effective Compliance Program,” GAIMOps Cayman (March 6, 2016)
- Speaker, “Dodd-Frank, AML, FATCA, and AIFMD: Regulatory and Compliance Challenges and Their Impact on Operations and Investor Relations,” Operations for Alternatives 2016 Conference (February 1, 2016)
- Speaker, “Hybrid Funds,” IBA’s 16th Annual International Conference on Private Investment Funds (March 2015)
Education
- JD, New York University School of Law, 1996
- AB, with High Distinction, University of Michigan, 1993
Admissions / Qualifications
Qualifications
- New York, 1997
Awards
- The Hedge Fund Journal, “50 Leading Women in Hedge Funds” (2019)
- The National Law Journal, “Crytptocurrency, Blockchain and Fintech Trailblazer” (2018)
- The Best Lawyers in America (2018-2023)
- Legal 500 (2015-2020)
- IFLR 1000 (2018-2023)
- Chambers Global: “Leading practitioner in hedge funds” (2009-2023)
- Chambers USA (2008-2021)
- Expert Guides’ Guide to the World’s Leading Women in Business Law (2014-2016)
- US Legal 500: “Leading lawyer in investment fund formation and management” (2009-2014)
- Who’s Who Legal Private Funds (2013, 2016, 2022)
- Euromoney's Guide to the World's Leading Women in Business Law (2013)
- Guide to the World's Leading Investment Funds Lawyers: “Leading investment funds lawyer” (2010)