Lowenstein Sandler Named New Venture Fund Co-Chairs
The firm appointed two veteran partners to lead its specialized practice for launching and managing venture capital funds.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Startups
Lowenstein Sandler has appointed Marie T. DeFalco and Sara R. Werner as Co-chairs of its Venture Funds Launch Group. This leadership change organizes the firm's counsel for venture fund managers across seven national offices.
Why it matters
The firm integrates expertise across tax, employment, and regulatory practices to support fund managers as they navigate complex legal requirements. This move signals a consolidated approach to providing multi-disciplinary guidance for new and established venture firms.
Lowenstein Sandler manages its practice with over 400 lawyers and is one of only seven U.S. firms ranked by Chambers Global for Venture Capital fund formation. DeFalco brings more than 25 years of experience to the role, while Werner contributes over 20 years.
The players
Marie T. DeFalco
A partner with over 25 years of experience and one of 24 lawyers ranked by Chambers Global for Venture Capital fund formation.
Sara R. Werner
A partner with over 20 years of experience focusing on private funds and venture fund launches.
Lowenstein Sandler
A national law firm employing over 400 lawyers with a specialized focus on venture capital and emerging company legal services.
The details
The Venture Funds Launch Group collaborates directly with the firm's Emerging Companies & Venture Capital Group to provide end-to-end legal support for fund sponsors. Attorneys from the firm’s tax, compensation, employment, and litigation units are integrated into this practice to address the multi-faceted compliance needs of venture fund clients. The firm operates out of offices in New York, Palo Alto, Roseland, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and Wilmington.
Timeline
September 24, 2026: Lowenstein Sandler announced the new co-chairs.
Market Landscape
This leadership shift reinforces the firm's status as one of seven U.S. entities ranked by Chambers Global for Venture Capital fund formation. It reflects the ongoing industry trend of integrating multi-disciplinary legal support to handle the increasing regulatory complexity of fund operations.
Managers of venture funds should monitor how this integrated practice structure affects the speed and scope of legal support for new fund launches. Operators evaluating their own fund formation strategy should assess whether their current legal counsel provides the same breadth of integrated tax and regulatory oversight.
The takeaway
The move demonstrates a strategic shift toward bundling regulatory, tax, and employment law under a single leadership umbrella for venture clients. Fund managers should compare their current legal team’s capacity to handle these integrated functions against this multi-disciplinary model.
Further reading
For more on the legal environment for emerging firms, visit Startups.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Globallegalchronicle.
