Skip To Content

DIVERSITY IN FUND FINANCE

In today’s ever-changing economic, political, and global business environments, diversity and inclusion are important considerations for all organizations. The vision of Diversity in Fund Finance is a Fund Finance (“FF”) community that: (i) recognizes that diverse perspectives strengthen the FF industry and organizations within it, and enhance the ability of those in the FF industry to better serve their clients and colleagues by working together, (ii) is inclusive of diverse individuals across each organization within the FF industry, including at the highest levels of each organization, and (iii) respects the viewpoints and contributions of diverse individuals in their organizations and the FF industry as a whole.

The Diversity in Fund Finance initiative is focused in the areas of education, opportunity, action, and affinity, as further detailed below.

Education – Part of our mission with respect to education is to educate students about the FF industry, provide opportunities for students to network with industry professionals and facilitate recruitment and retention of students in positions in FF industry organizations.  Diversity in Fund Finance recognizes that engagement and relationships need to be built with students early in their careers to create more opportunities to recruit and retain talent to address the current generalized lack of diversity within the FF industry.

Opportunity – Part of our mission is also to provide opportunities for would-be and current FF professionals to network, build connections, secure positions and obtain support to progress their careers and advance within their organizations as leaders in the FF industry.

Action – We understand that effecting change requires time, shared efforts and new thinking to drive progress. We aim to bring together FF professionals who want to take action to contribute to positive changes, particularly with respect to diversity and inclusion, within the FF industry.

Affinity – We provide an open, inclusive, supportive, welcoming, and respectful space for diverse FF industry professionals, students and other would-be professionals in the FF industry to connect based on their shared diverse perspectives and professional experiences. We strive to be inclusive of all diverse individuals, regardless of their culture, race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation or beliefs.

Cooley, Donald (Latham & Watkins)
2022 Diversity in Fund Finance Association Award Recipient
Donald epitomizes the pillars of Diversity in Fund Finance of Education, Opportunity, Action, and Affinity. Not only is Donald an outstanding attorney, with clients describing him as a “Trusted Advisor,” he goes above and beyond to help create an equal world with everything he does. Within Latham, Donald has served as a Global Chair of Latham’s First Generation Professionals Affinity Group, focusing on fostering a community of inclusion and a more diverse pipeline of talent. Donald has also served on Latham’s Pro Bono Community which works to help the most vulnerable and advocating for change. Donald has been at the forefront of ESG capital call facilities, incorporating his diversity and social awareness interests into his fund finance practice. Donald is an active Diversity in Fund Finance committee member and was instrumental in helping us create our FFA Supports National Coming Out Day video. Donald is genuinely a terrific example of how diversity adds value to our profession. We cannot think of someone more deserving of this award this year, both for his outstanding work and his dedication to strengthening the diversity and culture within the fund finance community and beyond.

Statement on Diversity and Inclusion (July 6, 2021)

Statement on Diversity and Inclusion

Our Leadership Team

Puri, Natasha (Lloyds Bank)
Natasha Puri
Global Chair

Lloyds Bank

Kaup, Anastasia (FFP)
Anastasia Kaup
Co-Chair Americas

Fund Finance Partners

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameswebb79/
James Webb
APAC Chair

Carey Olsen

Clovis, Parisa (Kirkland & Ellis International LLP)
Parisa Clovis
Co-Chair EMEA

Kirkland & Ellis International LLP

Streeter, Kyrstin (Reed Smith)
Kyrstin Streeter
Co-Chair EMEA

Reed Smith

Diversity Committee Members

Barreras, Bryan
Bryan Barreras
Cecil, Kathryn (Fried Frank)
Kathryn Cecil
Partner

Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson (London) LLP

Cooley, Donald (Latham & Watkins LLP)
Donald Cooley
Associate

Latham & Watkins

Davis, Chris (Morrison & Foerster)
Chris Davis
Partner

Reed Smith LLP

Eriksson, Victoria (Allen & Overy LLP)
Victoria Eriksson
Senior Associate

Allen & Overy LLP

Freeman, Trevor (Signature Bank)
Trevor Freeman
Managing Director

Signature Bank

Giacolone, Stephen (Lloyds)
Stephen Giacolone
Managing Director, Head of Financial Sponsors and Structured Finance North America

Lloyds Bank Corporate Markets

Go, Flora (Fried Frank)
Flora Go
Partner

Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP

Kim, Jeannie (Macquarie Group)
Jeannie Kim
Vice President

Macquarie Group

Lazgare, Ana (Maples)
Ana Lazgare
Associate

Maples Group

Mbayi, Michael (Wildgen)
Michael Mbayi
Director

Wildgen

Miao, Lily (Mourant)
Lily Miao
Counsel

Mourant

Morrison, Shelley (abdrn)
Shelley Morrison
Head of Fund Finance

abdrn

Nader, Jad (Ogier)
Jad Nader
Partner, Banking & Finance

Ogier

Reindel, Bill (Fried Frank)
F. William Reindel
Partner

Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP

Shah, Anuj (Simpson Thacher & Bartlett)
Anuj Shah
Counsel

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett

Tan, Albert (Haynes Boone)
Albert Tan
Partner | Co-Chair of Fund Finance Practice Group

Haynes Boone

Wong, Hong Cheong (Morrison Foerster)
Hong Cheong Wong
Of Counsel

Morrison Foerster

Diversity in Fund Finance Newsletters

Q4 2021 Diversity In Fund Finance Newsletter
PDF 2/10/2022
Download

Q3 2021 Diversity In Fund Finance Newsletter
PDF 2/10/2022
Download

Q2 2021 Diversity In Fund Finance Newsletter
PDF 2/10/2022
Download

Q1 2021 Diversity In Fund Finance Newsletter
PDF 2/10/2022
Download