Jonathan Karen is a partner in the Firm's Corporate Department, Co-Administrative Partner of the Firm and member of the Firm's Executive Committee, the Firm's highest governing body. Jonathan has led the Firm’s recent efforts in some of the industry’s most successful and market-defining private equity fund formations, including Blackstone’s recent flagship corporate, energy and real estate private equity funds: Blackstone Real Estate Partners X ($30.4 billion, 2023), Blackstone Real Estate Partners IX ($20.5 billion, 2019), Blackstone Core Equity Partners II ($8 billion, 2020) and Blackstone Energy Partners III ($4.2 billion, 2020). Other recent noteworthy private fund formation transactions led by Jonathan include Silver Lake Partners VII ($20.5 billion, 2024), Silver Lake Partners VI ($20 billion, 2020), Silver Lake Alpine II ($3.1 billion, 2022), Stonepeak Infrastructure Fund IV ($14 billion, 2022), Rockpoint Real Estate Fund VII ($5.4 billion, 2024), Centerbridge Capital Partners IV ($3 billion, 2021) and numerous other separate accounts, funds-of-one and similar custom arrangements across multiple asset classes, including buyout, real estate, infrastructure, secondaries and distressed and mezzanine debt. Jonathan also counsels investment firms on a mix of matters involving private investment funds, including internal economic arrangements for private fund sponsors, regulatory compliance, M&A transactions and strategic investments involving private fund sponsors, joint ventures and spin-outs. Jonathan is ranked both in the U.S. and Global guides by Chambers, which quotes clients describing him as “an ideal partner for nuanced work” with “impeccable commercial awareness” (Chambers USA) and “phenomenal” (Chambers Global). Jonathan was recognized as Fund Formation “MVP” by Law360 in 2023 and 2021, named to Private Equity International’s (PEI) Private Funds Management’s “30 Rising Stars Under 40” in 2015 and labeled a “Rising Star” by Law360 in 2013.
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Work Highlights
- Silver Lake in the establishment of the $20.5 billion Silver Lake Partners VII, the $20 billion Silver Lake Partners VI, the $15 billion Silver Lake Partners V, and the $3.15 billion Silver Lake Alpine II
- Blackstone in multiple fundraisings, including the establishment of the $30.4 billion Blackstone Real Estate Partners X, the largest real estate or private equity drawdown fund ever raised, the $20.5 billion Blackstone Real Estate Partners IX, the $8 billion Blackstone Core Equity Partners II, the $6.4 billion Blackstone Capital Partners Asia II, and the $4.2 billion Blackstone Energy Partners III
- Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners in the establishment of the $14 billion Stonepeak Infrastructure Fund IV, the $7.2 billion Stonepeak Infrastructure Fund III, the $3.3 billion Stonepeak Asia Infrastructure Fund, the $3.15 billion Stonepeak Opportunities Fund, and the $2.75 billion Stonepeak Global Renewables Fund, its inaugural renewable energy fund
- Centerbridge Partners in the establishment of the approximately $3 billion Centerbridge Capital Partners IV and prior funds
- Rockpoint in the establishment of the $5.4 billion Rockpoint Real Estate Fund VII, the $3.8 billion Rockpoint Real Estate Fund VI, and the $2 billion Rockpoint Growth and Income Real Estate Fund III
Accolades
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2023 “MVP” in Fund Formation, Law360
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2021 “MVP” in Fund Formation, Law360
Education
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New York University School of Law, 2001 J.D.
Annual Survey of American Law, 1999–2000
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Duke University, 1998 B.A.
cum laude
Jonathan A. Karen, a Partner at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP practicing in the Firm’s Corporate Department, Co-Administrative Partner of the Firm and a member of the Firm's Executive Committee, has led the Firm’s recent efforts in some of the industry’s most successful and noteworthy private equity fund formations, including:
- Stonepeak Infrastructure Fund IV ($14 billion; 2020)
- Blackstone’s recent flagship corporate, energy and real estate private equity funds:
- Blackstone Real Estate Partners X -- $30.4 billion (2023),
- Blackstone Core Equity Partners II -- $8 billion (2020)
- Blackstone Energy Partners III -- $4.2 billion (2020)
- Blackstone Real Estate Partners IX -- $20.5 billion (2019),
- Blackstone Capital Partners Asia II -- $6.4 billion (2022) and
- Blackstone Energy Partners III -- $4.2 billion (2020).
- Silver Lake Partners VII, L.P. ($20.5 billion; 2024)
- Silver Lake Partners VI, L.P. ($20 billion; 2021)
- Rockpoint Growth & Income Fund III ($2billion; 2020)
- Silver Lake Alpine II ($3.1 billion; 2022)
- Centerbridge Capital Partners IV L.P. ($3 billion; 2021)
Jonathan is ranked both in the U.S. and Global guides by Chambers, which quotes clients describing him as “an ideal partner for nuanced work” with “impeccable commercial awareness” (Chambers USA) and “phenomenal” (Chambers Global). Jonathan was recently named to Private Equity International's (PEI) Private Funds Management’s “30 Rising Stars Under 40” recognizing the top private funds lawyers under 40 as identified by industry participants and law firms from around the world. He was featured in Law360 as 2023 and 2021 “MVP” in Fund Formation and 2013 "Rising Star,” all of which honored his work for several high-profile private equity clients in establishing multibillion-dollar fund formations. Jonathan is cited as a recommended private equity funds lawyer in The Legal 500 United States 2015 and in Who’s Who Legal 2015. Jonathan has also spoken about private funds at forums such as the International Bar Association’s Private Funds Conference in London as well as the New York City Bar Association. His published work includes articles in Private Equity International and Getting the Deal Through.
Jonathan also counsels investment firms on a mix of matters involving private investment funds, including internal economic arrangements for private fund sponsors, regulatory compliance, M&A transactions and strategic investments involving private fund sponsors, joint ventures and spin-outs.
Jonathan received his J.D. from New York University School of Law in 2001, where he edited the Annual Survey of American Law from 1999 to 2000. He received his B.A. from Duke University, cum laude, in 1998.