Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP today announced the addition of two prominent partners in Boston: Zachary Hafer has joined the Government and Internal Investigations Practice and Yonatan (“Yoni”) Levy has joined the Private Funds Practice.
“We are very pleased that elite lawyers of the caliber of Zach and Yoni have continued to be attracted to the opportunity to practice in our collaborative and client-focused culture. These additions underscore our commitment to Boston and will enhance our capabilities to address clients’ transactional, regulatory, enforcement and disputes needs in the region,” said Alden Millard, Chair of Simpson Thacher’s Executive Committee. “We look forward to welcoming them to Simpson Thacher.”
“Yoni’s diverse experience further enhances our ability to provide strategic advice across the full field of private funds asset classes, including in our growing Boston office,” said Michael Wolitzer, Head of Simpson Thacher’s Investment Funds Practice. “His addition follows the hire of Registered Funds Partner Ken Burdon in Boston last year and deepens our capabilities to advise asset managers on the entire spectrum of their fundraising, product development and transactional needs across both the private and registered channels.”
“With 14 years at the U.S. Attorney’s office in Massachusetts and several years in private practice as a law firm partner, Zach is a great addition to our stellar bench of former government officials,” said Lynn Neuner, Global Co-Chair of Simpson Thacher’s Litigation Department. “Zach’s extensive experience in the healthcare, life sciences and financial services sectors aligns with our global Litigation platform, and he will help us meet the increasing demand from clients seeking assistance navigating their most critical government-facing matters,” added Jon Youngwood, Global Co-Chair of Simpson Thacher’s Litigation Department.
Zach said, “Simpson Thacher is widely recognized in the market for delivering exceptional results for clients on their most challenging issues. I’m excited to be a part of the new Boston office and to expand the Firm’s regulatory, investigations and enforcement capabilities.”
“Simpson Thacher’s global investment funds platform is at the forefront of the industry and the Firm’s client roster is unmatched,” said Yoni. “I am thrilled to join the incredibly talented team in Boston to expand the Firm’s private funds capabilities in the region.”
Zach represents companies, boards and individuals in internal and government investigations, including matters related to the Anti-Kickback Statute, FCA, FCPA, the CARES Act and related SEC matters, among others. Prior to private practice, Zach served with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts for 14 years, including as Chief of the Criminal Division, where he supervised approximately 100 federal prosecutors and managed the investigation and prosecution of some of the nation’s most important federal criminal cases. In addition to prosecuting and supervising numerous corporate fraud and public corruption cases, Zach helped prosecute James “Whitey” Bulger and was awarded the “Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service.” Recently named among Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly’s “Lawyers of the Year,” he is also recognized by Chambers USA in White Collar Crime and Government Investigations. He joins the Firm from another international law firm.
Yoni advises fund sponsors on the formation, fundraising and operation of private investment funds across a multitude of strategies, ranging from growth and buyout funds to credit, energy and co-investment funds. Yoni also regularly advises on asset management-related transactions, including structured secondary transactions, recapitalization transactions, management transitions, sponsor restructurings and “spinoffs” of investment teams from larger organizations, among others. He joins the Firm from another international law firm.
Simpson Thacher’s Boston office advises clients on the full spectrum of their transactional, disputes, regulatory and enforcement needs. The Firm provides coordinated counsel to clients across several industries, including asset management and other financial institutions, healthcare, biotechnology, life sciences and technology. The Firm’s Government and Internal Investigations Practice is consistently recognized as an industry leader by Global Investigations Review, Chambers, The Legal 500 and Benchmark Litigation and others for its guidance on clients’ most sensitive matters. The Firm’s Private Funds Practice is perennially ranked among the best private funds advisors around the globe by Chambers and Partners, The Legal 500, IFLR, and many others, and provides comprehensive advice to many of the world’s best-known institutional alternative asset managers, as well as smaller first-time funds and independent boutiques.
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