Skip to content

Allen & Overy enhances Funds and Asset Management practice with partner Elaine Hughes

Allen & Overy (“A&O”) today announced that Elaine Hughes has joined the firm as a partner in its U.S. Funds and Asset Management practice based in the New York office. Elaine has over two decades of experience representing U.S. and global investment managers, funds, and investors on the formation, structuring, and operation of U.S.-based and offshore investment vehicles, as well as joint ventures, managed accounts, and other alternative investment relationships. 

Elaine advises hedge funds, private equity funds, venture funds, credit funds, and funds of funds on all aspects of operational needs, securities laws, and regulatory and compliance issues. She is also experienced in leading transactions involving structures and assets with values ranging from tens of millions to several billion dollars. Her arrival follows the recent addition of Zeeshan (“Zee”) Ahmedani, who joined as a partner in the Global Funds practice, marking the continued growth of the firm’s U.S. funds practice.

Matt Huggett, Partner in the Funds & Asset Management Group, said, “Elaine’s hire is a fantastic addition to our growing funds team in the U.S. Her significant experience with leading U.S. fund managers and excellent technical skills will further extend our market leading global practice.”

“By continuing to enhance our upstream funds formation practice in the U.S., we are positioning A&O as a go-to firm for global, multi-strategy fund managers,” said Bill Schwitter, Chair of the U.S. Corporate practice.

Elaine joins following A&O’s recent announcement to merge with New York-based Shearman & Sterling, forming Allen Overy Shearman Sterling (A&O Shearman). The combined firm will have nearly 4,000 lawyers, 49 offices and tally revenues of about $3.4 billion, pending final firm votes. 

Karen Seward and Kent Rowey, U.S. Co-Chairs, added in a joint statement, “Elaine’s substantial fund establishment practice will complement the practices of our other partners and together will open new opportunities to serve our current and prospective private market clients in the U.S. and abroad, particularly in Private Credit, Real Estate and Infrastructure.”

I was attracted to Allen & Overy because of the firm’s ambitions in the funds space and the collaborative spirit of the partnership, and I see great near-term potential to grow the U.S. piece of the global offering.

Elaine Hughes

Elaine joins from Lowenstein Sandler, where she was a Co-Chair of the firm’s Investment Management Group, a member of the Executive Board, Chair of the Retirement Plan Committee, Co-Chair of the Associate-Partner Relationships Committee and as a member of the firm’s Diversity and Inclusion Steering Committee, as well as the Ad Hoc Compensation Review Committee.

For further information, please contact Meredith Bishop in New York on pro-a&o@prosek.com