Based in the Simpson Thacher’s London office, Owen Lysak leads the Firm’s European financial services and funds regulatory practice and is widely recognized as a leading practitioner advising private funds and alternative asset managers on complex U.K. and EU financial regulatory matters and on the democratization of access by ordinary investors to private markets investments. Owen has deep experience counseling prominent private funds, asset managers and financial institutions on U.K. and EU financial market regulations and transactions, including AIFMD, MiFID II and UCITS, as well as helping asset management firms design, develop and structure investment products, including having advised on many of the leading European private markets retail funds. His broad practice also includes advising on the regulatory aspects of M&A and restructurings within the financial sector, market abuse regulations, regulatory capital requirements, securities offering rules, and on issues related to Brexit.
Owen was recognized by IFLR as one of the most influential individuals in financial regulation in 2019 and as a “Rising Star” for financial services regulatory by IFLR1000. He was also named to Private Equity International’s Private Funds Management “30 Under 40 Lawyers” list in 2015 and 2017.
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Work Highlights
- CVC Capital Partners on the establishment of its €21.25 billion private equity fund, CVC Capital Partners VIII, in 2020 (prior to Owen joining Simpson Thacher)
- CVC on the establishment of its €4.6 billion long-term private equity fund, CVC Strategic Opportunities II
- Bridgepoint on the establishment if its long-term private equity fund, Bridgepoint Europe VII
- Blackstone on its leading European private wealth vehicles, Blackstone European Property Fund and Blackstone European Private Credit Fund
- Blackstone Tactical Opportunities in its investment in Currencies Direct
- Blackstone Infrastructure Partners in its announced acquisition of Altantia SpA
- Bourne Leisure, a portfolio company of Blackstone, in its agreement to sell Butlin’s, the British chain of seaside resorts, to a newly formed company backed by the Harris family
Accolades
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IFLR “Fin Reg Influencer” (2019)
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Private Equity International’s Private Funds Management “30 Under 40 Lawyers” (2015 and 2017)
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IFLR1000 “Rising Star” for Financial Services Regulatory
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The Legal 500 for Private Equity, Brexit and FinTech
Education
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The London School of Economics and Political Science, 2002 LL.B.
Associations
- BVCA’s Regulatory Committee
- Financial Markets Law Committee Asset Management Scoping Forum
Based in the Simpson Thacher’s London office, Owen Lysak leads the Firm’s European financial services and funds regulatory practice and is widely recognized as a leading practitioner advising private funds and alternative asset managers on complex U.K. and EU financial regulatory matters and on the democratization of access by ordinary investors to private markets investments. Owen has deep experience counseling prominent private funds, asset managers and financial institutions on U.K. and EU financial market regulations and transactions, including AIFMD, MiFID II and UCITS, as well as helping asset management firms design, develop and structure investment products, including having advised on many of the leading European private markets retail funds. His broad practice also includes advising on the regulatory aspects of M&A and restructurings within the financial sector, market abuse regulations, regulatory capital requirements, securities offering rules, and on issues related to Brexit.
Owen was recognized by IFLR as one of the most influential individuals in financial regulation in 2019 and as a “Rising Star” for financial services regulatory by IFLR1000. He was also named to Private Equity International’s Private Funds Management “30 Under 40 Lawyers” list in 2015 and 2017.
Owen is a regular contributor to regulatory policy debate and development, including in connection with reforms to European legislation including ELTIFs and AIFMD2, U.K. regulatory developments such as the introduction of the Long-Term Asset Fund and the U.K. Consumer Duty, the U.K’.s Patient Capital Review, as well as advising the Investment Association on issues relating to Brexit. Owen is a member of the British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (BVCA) Regulatory Committee.
Owen obtained an LL.B. from The London School of Economics and Political Science. He is admitted to practice in England and Wales.