Boutique law firm Kleinberg Kaplan has become a champion-level sponsor of Women in Funds, a social community for female leaders in the private investment funds industry and select senior leaders at law firms, allocators, and industry consultants.
“As a firm we recognise the need for diversity and we likewise counsel our investment fund clients on the value that a diverse work force creates,” says Jason Grunfeld, partner and head of business development for Kleinberg Kaplan. “We regularly work with many talented and successful female fund managers and know with the support of an organisation like Women in Funds, more women can become leaders in the industry.”
Women in Funds is simultaneously a catalyst for and a supporter of female momentum in the male dominated investment funds industry. Its members come from over 50 of the nation’s top hedge and private equity funds. The organisation has quickly grown through a grass roots effort. It hosts live events, charitable and social outings, podcasts, and private networking dinners for its members and also promotes women leaders through article placements.
“I started Women in Funds in 2016 out of a conviction that the extraordinary women in the industry deserved their own dedicated community,” says Laura Schnaidt, founder and CEO of Women in Funds. “We want to inspire and help build up the female talent in the industry and see more of them in the senior ranks at all types of investment funds. Partnering with firms like Kleinberg Kaplan allows us to provide programming and support to encourage the meaningful conversations that will help us realise that vision.”
“We already work with many female leaders in the funds industry, so our involvement with Women in Funds is a natural extension of those relationships and an opportunity to promote diversity among hedge and private equity fund leadership,” says Kelly Zelezen, partner with Kleinberg Kaplan. “We look forward to working with Women in Funds to further the advancement of women in the private investment funds space through educational and community programs.”
For more than 46 years, Kleinberg Kaplan has been a leader in the investment funds industry, and has developed a national and international reputation for representation of private funds, including several pioneers in the hedge fund industry.
Kleinberg Kaplan believes that diversity contributes to achieving its primary goal of delivering value added, cost effective services to its clients and that a diverse work force offers many benefits, including different perspectives on problem solving and achieving clients’ goals.