New York – 919 Third Avenue
Advises in the securities law, regulatory and compliance and shareholder activism areas.
Adriana counsels clients on a broad range of issues, including in the regulatory areas of Sections 13 and 16, Rule 144, insider trading, Regulation SHO order marking and Regulation M/Rule 105.
She also represents clients in private investments in public and private companies, including private investments in public equity (PIPEs), registered direct offerings, convertible 144A offerings, special-purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) and Regulation S offerings.
- Chambers USA
- Thomson Reuters, Stand-out Lawyer – independently rated lawyers, 2026
- The Hedge Fund Journal – 50 Leading Women in Hedge Funds, 2024
- New York Super Lawyers – Rising Star, 2016
- The Deal – Top Women in Dealmaking, 2023
- The Legal 500 US
- American Bar Association
- New York City Bar Association
- New York City Bar Association’s Securities Regulation Committee
- Brooklyn Law School, JD, cum laude, Brooklyn Journal of International Law
- University of Rochester, BA, cum laude
- New York
Kelly (Bucky) Knight
New York – 919 Third Avenue
Focuses on in- and out-of-court corporate restructurings, advising hedge funds, distressed investors and acquirers, secured and unsecured ad hoc groups, private fund lenders and equity sponsors in distressed situations across a wide array of industries.
Bucky has substantial experience in every phase of restructuring, workouts and distressed investing, including credit bid sales under section 363, debt-for-equity swaps, Chapter 11 plans, out-of-court restructurings, including exchange offers, debt repurchases and foreclosures as well as navigating inter-creditor issues involving the relative rights of majority and minority lenders.
He advises clients on insolvency-related issues associated with securitizations and other structured financings, including collateralized loan obligations. Bucky also works with litigation funders on investments in distressed plaintiff-side litigation.
Before joining Schulte, Bucky was an associate at a large international law firm where his practice was similarly focused on financial restructuring and insolvency.
- Counsel to bidders for the assets of GWG Holdings
- Counsel to debtholders in TriMark
- Counsel to distressed investors analyzing the workout and bankruptcy of opioid manufacturers
- Counsel to the equity sponsor of an entertainment data company
- Counsel to Senior Lenders in AAC Holdings, Inc.
- Cerberus Business Finance LLC, in its capacity as Administrative and Collateral Agent, for a syndicate of lenders under a $350-million credit facility, in connection with the restructuring of American Achievement Corporation
- Certain bondholders of the Puerto Rico Employee Retirement System in negotiating an RSA and plan term sheet in connection with the instrumentality’s PROMESA debt adjustment plan
- Counsel to the DRA Parties in Puerto Rico’s Title III and related cases (advising and litigating with respect to more than $20 billion in claims against multiple Puerto Rico entities)
- Bondholders in the restructuring of Puerto Rico, including as co-counsel to the COFINA Senior Bondholders’ Coalition
- Associated Materials, its affiliates and its board of managers, as outside corporate counsel
- Bluestar Alliance as buyer of the Justice brand assets of Ascena Retail Group in Chapter 11 cases
- Sixth Street Specialty Lending Inc. as first lien and cash collateral lender in connection with Energy Alloys Holdings Chapter 11 cases
- Certain funds managed by Oak Hill Advisors LP as holders of senior secured bonds in connection with the out-of-court recapitalization of Associated Materials and its affiliates
- Ad hoc group of over 550 hospitals in connection with the Purdue Pharma Chapter 11 cases
- Several utility bond holders in Chapter 11 cases of PG&E Corporation and Pacific Gas and Electric Company
- TPG Specialty Lending Inc. as first lien term lender in connection with the Barney’s Chapter 11 cases
- TPG Specialty Lending, Inc., in its capacity as ABL Agent, in Chapter 11 case of iHeartMedia, Inc., et al.
- Ad hoc group of private credit lenders holding more than $300 million of first lien term debt of Westmoreland Resource Partners LP, a coal mining company and subsidiary of Westmoreland Coal Company, in connection with WMLP’s Chapter 11 cases that featured a credit bid purchase with a strategic operating partner, significant litigation to address material legacy labor liabilities, and other environmental, surety, reclamation and regulatory issues
- Ultra V Holdings LLC (which includes Sound Point Capital Management as one of its members) as prepetition secured noteholder, debtor in possession financing lender and purchaser of substantially all of the assets of Relativity Media LLC and its affiliates in connection with their latest Chapter 11 cases
- Debtors in the Chapter 7 cases of Cambridge Analytica and its affiliate
- Syndicate of major international bank lenders in the Chapter 11 cases of Seadrill Limited and its affiliates
- Ad hoc group of noteholders and new money lenders of the Abengoa group of companies
- Senior Secured noteholders in connection with the debt-for-equity exchange and recapitalization of Associated Materials
- Wilmington Trust as second lien agent in connection with the True Religion Chapter 11 cases
- Several portfolio companies of private equity funds in connection with out-of-court exchange offers, debt repurchases and other capital restructurings
- Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, 2024-2026
- Harvard Law School, JD
- Yale University, BA
- New York
- US District Court, Southern District of New York
- US District Court, Eastern District of New York
Ariele L. Cohen
New York – 919 Third Avenue
Advises private investment funds and investment advisers in connection with their structuring, formation and ongoing operational needs.
Ariele advises on all aspects of fund formation, including preparation of private offering memoranda and limited partnership agreements, as well as negotiation of side letters.
She also has extensive experience advising institutional investors on their investments in private funds, including hedge funds, private equity funds and real estate funds, and co-investment transactions.
- American University Washington College of Law, JD, Staff, International Law Review
- Brandeis University, BA, magna cum laude
- New York
- New Jersey
Johannes Eckhardt
Frankfurt
Johannes Eckhardt berät Private-Equity- und Venture-Capital-Fonds sowie strategische Investoren bei Transaktionen im Gesundheits- Life-Sciences und Technologie-Sektor.
Er begleitet Finanzinvestoren über den gesamten Investitionszyklus hinweg – einschließlich Erwerb, Veräußerung, Investments und Portfoliobetreuung. Seine Erfahrung umfasst unterschiedliche Transaktionsformen, darunter Leveraged Buyouts, Wachstumskapitalbeteiligungen, Joint Ventures und Carve-out-Transaktionen.
Johannes Eckhardt verfügt über besondere Erfahrung im Bereich Health Services und Life Sciences sowie ein fundiertes Verständnis der regulatorischen Rahmenbedingungen und wirtschaftlichen Entwicklungen, die Innovation und Investitionen in diesen Branchen vorantreiben.
Zuvor war er unternehmensintern bei Merck tätig, wo er wertvolle Einblicke in die praktische Umsetzung regulatorischer und transaktionsbezogener Themen auf Unternehmensseite gewann.
Johannes Eckhardt beriet:
- Insight Partners bei verschiedenen Investitionen in deutsche Unternehmen und damit verbundenen Transaktionen, darunter HelloFresh (Börsengang), Delivery Hero (Börsengang), HomeToGo (De-SPAC), commercetools und N26*
- Hudson’s Bay Company bei der Gründung eines Kaufhaus-Joint-Ventures und von Immobilien-Joint-Ventures mit Signa unter Einbeziehung von Galeria Kaufhof und Karstadt sowie beim anschließenden Verkauf von Anteilen an den Joint Ventures*
- EQT Mid Market Europe bei der Übernahme von BBS Automation
- FernUniversität Hagen, Diplom-Volkswirt, LL.M.
- University of California, Berkeley, Zweites Staatsexamen
- Oberlandesgericht Frankfurt am Main, Erstes Staatsexamen
- Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main
- Deutschland
- New York
- Deutsch
- Englisch
Dr. Natallia Karniyevich
Düsseldorf
Dr. Natallia Karniyevich verfügt über mehr als zehn Jahre Erfahrung im europäischen Cybersecurity- und Datenschutzrecht und berät multinationale Unternehmen zu komplexen Fragen der Cybersecurity. Sie unterstützt Mandanten dabei, den rasanten technologischen Wandel und ein zunehmend anspruchsvolles regulatorisches Umfeld erfolgreich zu bewältigen.
Natallia Karniyevich konzentriert sich auf die europäische Regulierung im Bereich Cybersecurity und Resilienz. Sie begleitet Mandanten über den gesamten Cybersecurity-Lebenszyklus hinweg – von der Konzeption und Implementierung von Cybersecurity- und Resilienzprogrammen über die Durchführung von Cybersecurity-Schulungen und die Etablierung regulatorischer Compliance-Strukturen bis hin zur Reaktion auf Cybersecurity-Vorfälle und der Bewältigung ihrer regulatorischen Folgen.
Ein Schwerpunkt ihrer Tätigkeit liegt in der Leitung komplexer, grenzüberschreitender Projekte zur Umsetzung der NIS2-Richtlinie und der Richtlinie über die Resilienz kritischer Einrichtungen (CER-Richtlinie). Darüber hinaus berät sie Mandanten zu neuen und sich weiterentwickelnden Cybersecurity-Anforderungen, darunter insbesondere die Vorgaben des Cyber Resilience Act, des Cybersecurity Act, des Cyber Solidarity Act und von DORA.
Ein weiterer Schwerpunkt ihrer Beratung liegt auf den Cybersecurity-Aspekten künstlicher Intelligenz, einschließlich der Anforderungen der EU-KI-Verordnung (EU AI Act). Zu ihren Mandanten zählen Betreiber von Rechenzentren und anderer digitaler Infrastruktur, Anbieter digitaler Dienste, Betreiber kritischer Infrastrukturen sowie führende Unternehmen aus den Bereichen Fertigung, Automobil, Lebensmittel, Transport und Gesundheitswesen.
Natallia Karniyevich ist Mitglied des IAPP Cybersecurity Law Center Advisory Board und veröffentlicht und referiert regelmäßig zu Themen des Cybersecurity-Rechts. Sie ist unter anderem Mitautorin der neunten Ausgabe des International Comparative Legal Guide – Cybersecurity 2026 sowie von Casebook European Data Law – Ten Years of the GDPR: A Milestone in EU Data Regulation (Nomos, 2026). Darüber hinaus ist sie Gastdozentin an der Frankfurt School of Finance & Management.
Natallia Karniyevich beriet:
- Ein Big-5-Tech-Unternehmen bei einem NIS2-Compliance-Projekt, einschließlich der Überwachung der Umsetzung in allen EWR-Mitgliedstaaten, sowie zur Cyber-Solidaritätsverordnung und der Richtlinie über kritische Einrichtungen*
- Führende US-amerikanische Online-Medien- und Cybersicherheitsunternehmen zur Anwendbarkeit von NIS2*
- Eine weltweit tätige Social-Media-Plattform im Rahmen eines multijurisdiktionalen Cybersicherheits-Compliance-Projekts*
International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP)
- Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Dr. jur.
- Oberlandesgericht Düsseldorf, Zweites Staatsexamen
- Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Erstes Staatsexamen
- Studium des Internationalen Rechts, Minsk
- Deutschland
- Englisch
- Russisch
- Spanisch
- Deutsch
Omar Shah
London – 22 Bishopsgate
Omar Shah advises global clients on complex merger control transactions, cartel and antitrust investigations, and high-stakes competition litigation as well as FDI advice and filings worldwide. With more than two decades of experience, he is particularly known for navigating matters at the intersection of antitrust and intellectual property, and across media and communications, pharmaceuticals, transport, financial services, and data privacy. Omar regularly represents clients before the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), the European Commission, and other global competition authorities, as well as in commercial and regulatory litigation before the UK courts, including judicial review proceedings.
Omar is recognized as a “smart and outstanding lawyer who is a true global player” and a “charming and effective partner who instantly wins the client’s confidence and respect,” according to Chambers UK.
Further examples of Omar’s work include:
- Advised on several complex international transactions including WE Soda/Sisecam, Connect Airways/Flybe, ResMed JV, Yandex/Uber JV, Rexnord/Regal Beloit, Expedia/Orbitz, Oracle/Peoplesoft, AOL/Time Warner, Vodafone/Mannesmann, and Guinness/Grand Metropolitan*
- Advised TFL/Lanxess, Tadano/Terex, Werner/Youngman, The Cooper Companies/Sauflon, Ticketmaster/Seatwave, and several other UK mergers before the UK Competition and Markets Authority*
- Advised several global corporations in major international antitrust and cartel investigations in the pharmaceutical, technology, electronic components, airline, steel, automotive, and maritime sectors*
- Acted for pharma company in relation to an ongoing investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority into alleged excessive pricing in the pharmaceuticals sector (winner of GCR Behavioural Matter of the Year – Europe)*
- Acted for UK pharma company in relation to a statement of objections by the Competition and Markets Authority in relation to an alleged pay-for-delay arrangement in the pharmaceuticals sector*
- Ranked, Competition Law, Chambers UK (2025-2026)
- Ranked, Competition Law, UK, Chambers Europe (2025)
- Ranked, Competition Law, UK, Chambers Global (2013–2025)
- Recognized, Competition Law, London, The Best Lawyers in the United Kingdom (2020–2022)
- Recommended, Dispute Resolution: Competition Litigation, Legal 500 UK (2025-2026)
- Recommended, Industry Focus: Life Sciences and Healthcare, The Legal 500 UK (2024, 2025)
- Past Chair, Law Society Competition Section Committee
- Winner of GCR Behavioural Matter of the Year – Europe
Jerry L. Hall
New York — One Vanderbilt Avenue
Jerry L. Hall focuses his practice on restructuring, bankruptcy, and insolvency with a focus on distressed situations. He counsels clients on financial and operational restructurings across the United States, including Puerto Rico.
Jerry guides troubled companies, independent directors, indenture trustees, debtors-in-possession, committees, distressed debt investors, secured lenders, and lessors in mapping new and transformative paths. He regularly represents clients from a variety of industries, such as agriculture, aerospace and aviation, entertainment, finance, gaming and hospitality, life sciences, manufacturing, real estate, retail, and telecommunications.
- Counseled a mortgage loan originator in connection with the ResCap RMBS litigation*
- Counseled a pork processing enterprise debtor in its chapter 11 case*
- Counseled the debtor of a specialty airline offering business class only service to London in its chapter 11 case*
- Counseled the debtor of a major online advertising company in its chapter 11 case, which involved three separate sales of assets*
- Represented a mezzanine lender in its chapter 11 case involving multi-debtor real estate developers, which included related substantive consolidation and intercreditor litigation*
- Counseled the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of a skin, hair, and oral care products seller, achieving significant recovery for unsecured creditors in a chapter 11 case despite the secured creditors being substantially undersecured*
- Super Lawyers, New York, Bankruptcy, 2024 – 2025
- Legal 500 United States, Recommended Attorney, 2022
- George Washington University Law School, LLM
- University of Tennessee College of Law, JD
- Allegheny College, BA
- District of Columbia
- New York
- Virginia
- US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- US District Court for the Southern District of New York
- US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
- US District Court for the District of Maryland
- US District Court for the District of Columbia
- US District Court for the District of Puerto Rico
Darshak S. Dholakia
Washington, DC
Darshak S. Dholakia advises corporations and individuals on compliance with a broad range of national security and international trade laws. He has significant experience assessing and mitigating potential legal risks under economic sanctions programs administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), anti-money laundering (AML) provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), and other anti-corruption laws.
Foreign investors, acquirers, and US sellers and targets turn to Darshak for representation in investment transactions involving national security reviews conducted by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) and potential concerns under the US Treasury Outbound Investment Security Program. Darshak is also well-versed in tariffs and import controls, as well as export controls, including the Export Administration Regulations, the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), and the Part 110 and 810 nuclear export control regulations.
- Advised and conducted training sessions for investment advisers, mutual funds, and other financial services companies regarding compliance with economic sanctions, anti-bribery, and anti-money laundering laws*
- Conducted a risk assessment and enhancement of the export control and sanctions compliance program of a multinational network infrastructure and cloud service provider company*
- Advised a publicly traded satellite technology company on compliance with global export control, sanctions, and anti-bribery laws*
- Legal 500 US, Next Generation Partner, International Trade and National Security: Customs, Export Controls and Economic Sanctions, 2024
- Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll, 2014- 2024
- South Asian Bar Association, member
- National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, member
- American Society of International Law, member
- Columbia Law School, JD, with distinction
- Yale University, BA
- District of Columbia
- New York
- Englisch
- Gujarati
- Hindi
- Spanish
Ben Cheatham
Washington, DC
Ben Cheatham focuses his practice on US federal income tax matters in the renewable and transitional energy sectors. He advises clients on the financing, development, operation, acquisition, and disposition of energy projects, with a particular emphasis on investment and production tax credits, direct pay, and credit transfer transactions under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA). He also advises on compliance with the IRA’s prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements.
- Represented Terra-Gen in its tax equity and debt financings of the 1,118 megawatts (MW) solar and 2,165 megawatt hour battery energy storage systems Edwards & Sanborn project*
- Represented Invenergy and its affiliates in their $1.5 billion acquisition of AEP’s 1,365 MW unregulated renewables portfolio, their successful contract bid for the 2,400 MW Leading Light Wind offshore wind farm, and their $580 million tax credit transfer agreement with Bank of America*
- Represented First Solar in the tax aspects of various matters, including the tax equity financings of the 280 MW California Flats Solar Project, the 179 MW Switch Station solar projects, and the 40 MW Kingbird solar project*
- New York University School of Law, LLM, cum laude
- University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law, JD
- University of California, San Diego, BA
- California
- District of Columbia
Candice Nichol
London – 22 Bishopsgate
Candice Nichol is a tax partner in London and advises clients on a broad range of complex tax matters. She is particularly recognised for her work advising asset management, investment fund and financial institution clients on tax structuring and transactions. Candice leverages her experience attained within the legal sector, the Big Four and at a leading financial institution to provide tax advice that is pragmatic and cognizant of client and market context. Technical excellence and client service are at the forefront of Candice’s practice; she has been described by her clients as “an outstanding tax technician and client server”.
Candice has a focus on private equity. She advises private equity funds and investors on tax structuring and on all types of international transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, corporate carve-outs, public-to-private transactions, buy-and-build strategies, debt-to-equity conversions and restructurings, across debt, equity, infrastructure and real estate asset classes. In connection with this advice, Candice covers a wide variety of structuring issues, including advising on anti-avoidance legislation, funding options and the taxation of financial instruments, holding company structures, suitable structures for UK investors, the taxation of carried interest, co-investments, and employee incentive arrangements, pre-sale reorganisations, and exit considerations (including IPOs, private sales, and auctions). Candice also has experience in contentious tax matters.
- Advised a private equity fund on the tax aspects of a multi-billion-dollar acquisition of financial assets, which included the establishment of one of the UK’s first Qualifying Asset Holding Companies*
- Advised a private equity fund on the tax aspects of a cross-border corporate carve-out from an insurance group*
- Advised a private equity fund on the tax aspects of a cross-border sale of a real estate developer, which included the successful negotiation of a multi-million-pound tax ruling with an overseas tax authority*
- The Legal 500 UK, Recommended
- BPP Law School, LPC
- BPP Law School, GDL
- University College London, BA
- England and Wales
- Englisch