Simpson Thacher is a leader in organizing and bringing to market sophisticated private equity funds.  Principal clients in this area are LBO funds, including the two of the largest sponsors of private equity funds, KKR and Blackstone, but our practice also involves hedge, venture capital and real estate funds, among others.  For example, the Firm represents the Blackstone Group, the Carlyle Group and J.E. Robert Companies in the formation of real estate opportunity funds and their transactions.. 

The Firm's tax attorneys play an important role in structuring and documenting these private equity funds, providing advice on partnership issues and other tax considerations to the fund sponsors and to taxable and tax-exempt domestic investors, as well as foreign individual and corporate investors.  The Firm also provides counsel to clients forming funds in foreign jurisdictions.  For example, the Firm has advised Advantage Partners in the formation of the largest Japanese private equity fund.