Recognized for being a “a leader in alternative structures” in Chambers USA, Benjamin Wells is at the forefront of developing novel and commercial solutions for clients to provide individual investors access to private markets across all asset classes–real estate, private credit, private equity, infrastructure, sports and others. A Partner in Simpson Thacher’s Registered Funds Practice in New York, his practice focuses on advising leading asset management sponsors including, Blackstone, Blue Owl, Brookfield, Clarion, Cohen & Steers, KKR, New Mountain, PGIM, Starwood Capital Group and TPG.
Benjamin brings deep market experience and knowledge in helping clients design, develop and structure private funds tailored for individual investors, conglomerates, REITs, closed-end tender offer funds and interval funds, business development companies and various non-U.S. fundraising vehicles. He regularly represents these clients on transactional, regulatory and ongoing governance and compliance matters.
Benjamin is ranked by Chambers USA for both Registered Funds and REITs, where clients describe him as a “star” and “super talented lawyer” who is “thoughtful and hardworking.” He is also recognized by IFLR1000 as “Rising star partner” and was named a Rising Star at the 2017 Mutual Fund Industry Awards.
Representative transactions on which Benjamin has worked include:
REITs and Closed-End Interval and Tender Offer Funds
- Blackstone Real Estate Income Trust, Inc., a non-exchange traded equity REIT, in its formation and continuous public offering and ongoing matters
- Blackstone Real Estate Income Fund, a non-listed closed-end fund, in ongoing matters
- Oaktree Real Estate Income Trust, Inc., a non-exchange traded equity REIT, in the launch of its continuous SEC-registered offering and ongoing matters
- Blue Owl Real Estate Net Lease Trust, a private REIT, in its formation and continuous private offering
- KKR Real Estate Select Trust, a registered closed-end investment company taxed as a REIT, in its formation and continuous public offering
- Blackstone Private Multi-Asset Credit & Income Fund, a registered investment company operating as an interval fund, in its formation and continuous public offering
- Cohen & Steers Income Opportunities REIT, a public non-traded REIT, in connection with its formation, continuous offering and ongoing matters
- Clarion Partners Real Estate Income Fund Inc., a closed-end interval fund, in connection with its continuous offering
- PGIM Private Real Estate Fund, a registered closed-end investment company taxed as a REIT, in its formation and continuous public offering
- Blackstone / GSO Floating Rate Enhanced Income Fund, a closed-end interval fund, in connection with its continuous offering
- Three Blackstone / GSO closed-end funds in their IPOs and ongoing matters
Business Development Companies
- Blackstone Private Credit Fund, a non-traded business development company, in its formation and continuous private offering
- Blackstone / GSO Secured Lending Fund, a business development company, in connection with its private offering and initial public offering
- New Mountain Private Credit Fund, a private business development company, in its formation transaction and continuous private offering
- New Mountain Guardian III BDC, L.L.C., a business development company, in connection with its private offering
Other Retail Vehicles
- Blackstone Private Equity Strategies Fund and Blackstone Infrastructure Strategies in their formation and continuous private offerings
- KKR Private Equity Conglomerate in its formation and continuous private offering
- TPG Private Equity Opportunities, a private fund designed for individual investors, in connection with its formation and continuous offering
- Blackstone European Private Income Fund, a Part UCI Luxembourg SICAV, in connection with its formation
Regulatory and Transactional Matters
- Blackstone / GSO as sub-adviser in connection with its separation from funds advised by FS Investments
- Underwriters in connection with various offerings, including by Goldman Sachs BDC, Inc., Highland Income Fund and funds advised by Gabelli Funds, LLC
- First Data Corporation in the largest IPO of 2015
Benjamin received his J.D., cum laude, from the University of Michigan Law School and his B.A., cum laude, from Trinity University. He is admitted to practice in New York.