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John D. Reiss

John D. Reiss

Partner
About

John D. Reiss advises investment managers on all aspects of private fund formation and the establishment of managed accounts, as well as regulatory and compliance matters (particularly the US Investment Advisers Act), management company structuring and general governance issues. Additionally, he represents sophisticated investors in connection with private investments across numerous alternative asset classes. John's experience spans private credit, real estate, private equity and venture capital and hedge fund strategies. He has also worked on real estate joint ventures, private equity secondary transactions, asset management M&A and registered funds.

John has been repeatedly recognized as a rising star in the investment funds area, including by The Legal 500, Law360 and IFLR1000.

Bar admissionsConnecticutNew York

EXPERIENCE

Recent experience includes the following:

Private Credit/Private Equity

  • Hayfin Capital Management in connection with the formation of multiple funds pursuing credit strategies, as well as US regulatory advice; recent fund formation projects include the Hayfin Healthcare Opportunities Fund and a rated notes feeder for Hayfin's flagship Direct Lending Fund IV
  • Sound Point Capital Management in connection with the acquisition of the US direct lending business of CVC Credit Partners, representing over $1 billion of assets under management in commingled funds and managed accounts; fund counsel for Sound Point U.S. Direct Lending Fund II
  • Blue Torch Capital in connection with the establishment of multiple fund of one managed accounts for state pension plans, totaling US$450 million of commitments
  • Sound Point Capital Management in connection the formation of a CLO equity fund and a credit-focused managed account for an institutional investor, as well as formation of an additional CLO equity fund intending to convert to a closed-end fund registered under the Investment Company Act
  • Ares Management in connection with the formation of multiple credit-focused private funds and managed accounts, as well as ongoing fund operations and strategic investment management transactions
  • MC Credit Partners in connection with fund formation and governance matters, regulatory advice and management company and carried interest structuring arrangements
  • Shenkman Capital Management on the formation of a fund of one for sovereign wealth fund investor, targeting investments in CLO equity
  • US-based subsidiary of a Mexican wealth management firm on the formation of a private credit fund targeting investments across Latin America, including structuring and negotiation of a revenue-sharing seed investment by a large Canadian asset management firm
  • Global Atlantic Financial Group in connection with the establishment of numerous managed account relationships across private credit and infrastructure strategies
  • Emerging US investment manager in connection with its formation and the establishment of its initial managed account with an institutional investor, focused on credit investments across Latin America
  • A prominent state pension plan in connection with various private fund investments
  • Large US public company in connection with its proprietary investments in various venture capital funds focused on the fintech sector
  • A multifamily office with over US$3 billion of AUM in connection with their fund of funds investment vehicle and US regulatory matters. 
  • Multiple large sovereign wealth funds in connection with substantial investments in funds and co-investments sponsored by prominent managers across infrastructure and private equity buyout strategies*

Real Estate

  • Sound Point Capital Management in connection with the establishment of a new US$1.5 billion commercial real estate debt platform seeded by a US insurance company and the subsequent transfer to the platform by such seed investor of an additional $1 billion portfolio previously managed by a third party manager
  • Penwood Real Estate Investment Management in connection with the formation of the US$381.5 million Penwood Select Industrial Fund VI, as well as a US$134 million co-investment vehicle and a managed account for a state pension plan investor
  • Dome Equities in connection with the formation of its first multi-asset private real estate fund, Dome U.S. Multifamily Fund II, which exceeded its fundraising target and pursues a value-add strategy in the US multifamily rental sector; representation of Dome with respect to the formation of its successor funds, Dome U.S. Multifamily Fund III and Dome U.S. Residential Fund IV, related placement agent agreements and regulatory and compliance matters under the Advisers Act
  • Sound Point Capital Management in connection with the formation of a commingled, closed-end private fund targeting commercial real estate mortgage investments
  • A prominent state pension plan in connection with various real estate fund investments
  • An emerging manager in connection with the formation of a private fund to invest in short-term rental properties in the US
  • Avente Capital Management in connection with its establishment and the formation of Avente Capital Partners I and Avente Capital Partners II for investment in US real estate, in each case with German seed investors
  • A large US real estate fund manager, focused on the office sector, in connection with the negotiation of a placement agent agreement for its most recent fund targeting US$1.25 billion of capital commitments*
  • A prominent US manager in the structuring and formation of a private equity real estate fund with aggregate commitments of US$716 million (including co-investments) for investment primarily in US residential markets, its successor fund, as well as the structuring and formation of a US$679 million private fund focused on real estate investments in Brazil*
  • Multiple large sovereign wealth funds and a prominent Asian development bank in negotiations for US$50 million-US$500 million investments and co-investments with high-profile US-based real estate managers*

Hedge Funds

  • Large sovereign wealth fund in negotiations for investments with numerous prominent hedge fund managers*
  • Large US-based hedge fund manager with respect to ongoing regulatory and compliance issues*
  • Large US-based hedge fund manager on multiple new fund formations, as well as assistance with regulatory and investor relations issues*

*denotes matters handled prior to joining DLA Piper

Education
  • J.D., Fordham University

    Magna cum laude
    Order of the Coif
    Member, Fordham Law Review

  • B.A., Fordham University

Awards

  • Recognized as a Rising Star by IFLR1000 (2022)
  • The Legal 500 United States
    Next Generation Partner, Private Equity Funds (including Venture Capital) (2017-2021) 
  • IFLR1000 Financial & Corporate Rising Star in area of Investment Funds (2016-2020)
  • Clients tell Chambers Global that John Reiss is "extremely responsive, very knowledgeable and capable" (2017)
  • Law360 Asset Management Rising Star (2017)
  • IFLR1000 reports that John Reiss "is very thorough and is able to efficiently and effectively get to the core issues in any transaction" (2016)

Seminars

Panelist, "A Debate: Go Deal-By-Deal Or Launch A Fund In Today’s Climate?" 17th Annual Winter Forum On Real Estate Opportunity & Private Fund Investing, (January 2020)

Media Mentions

Prior Experience

  • Completed a four-month secondment as in-house counsel for a multibillion-dollar US hedge fund and private equity fund sponsor

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