Steve Bornstein provides general counsel services to investment advisers, private investment funds and family offices on an as-needed basis. He advises clients on the legal issues and risks inherent in all phases of asset management, from entity formation and investment operations to product distribution and investor relations. An experienced in-house attorney, Steve also helps clients select outside counsel and oversees their services so as to minimize overall legal expenses.
Steve Bornstein has been managing the legal affairs of traditional and alternative asset managers since 1980. He began his legal career at the law firm of Willkie Farr & Gallagher (WF&G) where he specialized in the development, management and distribution of public and private investment securities.
In 1984, Steve left WF&G to join the legal department of Bear, Stearns & Co. where he served as General Counsel of its asset management division (BSAM) for 22 years. At its peak, BSAM managed $35 billion of assets for institutional and high net worth investors in separate account, mutual fund, wrap fee, hedge fund, venture capital and fund-of-fund structures.
In 2006, Steve accepted a position as Senior Vice President of D. E. Shaw & Co. and served as senior counsel to its institutional asset management business through the end of 2009.
In 2010, Steve established his own law practice aimed at asset and private fund managers in need of specialized, in-house legal expertise.
Steve was educated at Boston Latin School, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Virginia School of Law and is admitted to practice law in the State of New York.