Peter H. Gilman

Peter is widely recognized as one of the leading next generation private fund lawyers in the United States. His practice focuses on the sponsoring and management of private investment funds, investment management M&A and other aspects of private investing in alternative asset classes, with a focus on innovative, high-value private fund arrangements of size and import.

Peter has been named one of the “Top 30 under 40” in private equity by Private Funds Management in 2015 and 2017, a “Rising Star” by Law360 in 2016, a “Superstar Lawyer of Tomorrow” by Private Equity International in 2017, and as a leading investment funds lawyer by Who’s Who Legal in each of 2019 to 2024. Peter has represented many of the world’s leading private equity firms, including Blackstone, BC Partners, Centerbridge, Lexington Partners, Morgan Stanley, Silver Lake, Stonepeak and Alinda. 

Peter is considered a pioneer for his work on innovative “funds of one” and separately managed accounts, having established the unique Blackstone Tactical Opportunities investment program for which Simpson Thacher was highly commended in the Financial Times’ U.S. Innovative Lawyers Report and which is generally regarded as the industry bellwether for customized fund arrangements, as well as for his work relating to GP “minority stake” arrangements. Peter also regularly advises private equity clients on a wide range of high-profile private equity fundraisings across all types of asset classes, internal economic and house/team arrangements, founder succession planning and other strategic initiatives and special projects.

Peter has been at the forefront of the GP-led structured secondaries market in recent years, having completed a number of the largest structured secondary PE transactions and dedicated fundraisings in recent years on behalf of Blackstone. During the COVID-19 economic crisis, Peter counseled a wide range of alternative investment funds with respect to “rescue” financings and preferred equity / debt investments involving other hedge funds and private equity funds. 

Peter’s published work includes a variety of articles in Getting the Deal Through and The Guide to the World’s Leading Private Equity Lawyers (among others). Peter has also spoken on a wide range of topics relating to alternative investment funds and asset management, including at the IBA Conference on Private Investment Funds in London, the Maples Private Funds Investment Forum in the Cayman Islands, and the Global Fund Finance Symposium in New York.

Peter is a member of the American Investment Council’s Young Professionals Network (a peer selected network of “rising stars” in the private equity industry), the Private Investment Funds Committee of the New York City Bar Association, and the Rotunda Society of the University of Virginia. Peter is a member of the Board of Directors of the GO Project and is a member of the Vestry of Grace Church.

Peter is a guest lecturer on Private Equity at the University of Virginia School of Law and the University of Pennsylvania Law School. He is also a member of the Dean’s Council of the University of Virginia School of Law and an advisor to the University of Pennsylvania’s Intercollegiate Athletic Program.

Peter is a Hiring Partner of the Firm and is a member of the Firm’s Finance, Business Development, Recruiting, Knowledge Management and Attorney Development Committees.

Peter received his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law, and received his B.A. in Economics and his M.G.A. from the University of Pennsylvania.