Key Takeaways
- • Lowenstein Sandler elevates Marie T. DeFalco and Sara R. Werner to co-chairs of its Venture Funds Launch Group, signaling organizational emphasis on venture capital fund formation and operations.
- • Werner brings over 20 years of institutional experience advising venture capital, private equity, and private credit funds, with expertise in fund formation, fund operations, and investment transactions across the startup and growth equity ecosystems.
- • DeFalco's co-leadership role reflects her established focus on venture capital funds within the firm's Investment Management & Private Funds Group, one of the leading such practices in the United States.
- • Werner's background includes advisory roles to Entrepreneurs Roundtable Accelerator since 2012 and seven years as adjunct instructor at Cornell Tech's LLM program, demonstrating deep integration with innovation and entrepreneurship communities.
- • The dual co-chair structure positions Lowenstein Sandler to serve both investment managers and limited partners across fund structures, market terms, investor negotiations, and portfolio company transactions.
Summary
Lowenstein Sandler has appointed Marie T. DeFalco and Sara R. Werner as co-chairs of its Venture Funds Launch Group, a leadership realignment within the firm's Investment Management & Private Funds Group, one of the nation's leading investment management and private funds practices. The announcement reflects the firm's strategic commitment to venture capital fund formation and the broader alternative investment ecosystem.
Werner joined Lowenstein Sandler as a partner in the Investment Management & Private Funds and Emerging Companies & Venture Capital groups, based in the New York office. She brings more than 20 years of experience advising venture capital, private equity, and private credit fund managers, as well as representing limited partners investing in such vehicles. Her practice encompasses fund formation, fund operations, and investment transactions, with particular focus on advising investment managers on fund structures, market terms, and investor negotiations. Werner also advises emerging, growth, and established portfolio companies on venture and growth equity financings, corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, and strategic business transactions, serving as outside general counsel where needed.
DeFalco, already established as a partner within the Investment Management & Private Funds Group, brings specialized expertise in venture capital fund structures and operations to her co-chair role. The dual leadership arrangement enables the group to provide comprehensive coverage across the venture capital lifecycle—from fund formation through portfolio company exits, including secondary and other exit transactions.
Beyond legal practice, Werner's background demonstrates active engagement with the entrepreneurship ecosystem. Since 2012, she has served as advisor to Entrepreneurs Roundtable Accelerator, New York's leading technology accelerator. She previously taught as an adjunct instructor at Cornell Tech's LLM program for seven years and serves on the Entrepreneurship at Cornell Advisory Council, underscoring her commitment to fostering innovation and emerging company development alongside her institutional legal work.
Werner joined Lowenstein Sandler as a partner in the Investment Management & Private Funds and Emerging Companies & Venture Capital groups, based in the New York office. She brings more than 20 years of experience advising venture capital, private equity, and private credit fund managers, as well as representing limited partners investing in such vehicles. Her practice encompasses fund formation, fund operations, and investment transactions, with particular focus on advising investment managers on fund structures, market terms, and investor negotiations. Werner also advises emerging, growth, and established portfolio companies on venture and growth equity financings, corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, and strategic business transactions, serving as outside general counsel where needed.
DeFalco, already established as a partner within the Investment Management & Private Funds Group, brings specialized expertise in venture capital fund structures and operations to her co-chair role. The dual leadership arrangement enables the group to provide comprehensive coverage across the venture capital lifecycle—from fund formation through portfolio company exits, including secondary and other exit transactions.
Beyond legal practice, Werner's background demonstrates active engagement with the entrepreneurship ecosystem. Since 2012, she has served as advisor to Entrepreneurs Roundtable Accelerator, New York's leading technology accelerator. She previously taught as an adjunct instructor at Cornell Tech's LLM program for seven years and serves on the Entrepreneurship at Cornell Advisory Council, underscoring her commitment to fostering innovation and emerging company development alongside her institutional legal work.
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