Michael S. Hong
Advises private fund managers in complex, high-value fund formation matters. Extensive experience on first-time fundraises, co-investments and secondary transactions.
Michael advises fund-related clients on all manner of fund formation and investor relations, M&A (with deep experience in co-investment) and regulatory matters. His clients include private equity, credit, growth capital, hedge, energy, real estate, co-investment and fund of funds managers.
Michael also advises on secondary transactions, GP-stake sales and purchases, spin-outs and JVs. He also regularly represents sponsors and senior executives of sponsors in employment and separation matters.
His clients include Antares Capital, Cowen, Durational Capital, GHK Capital, Godspeed Capital, Golub Capital, Harvest Partners, Lightyear Capital, Tailwind Capital, Trilantic Capital and TruArc Partners (successor to Snow Phipps).
Michael is widely recognized as a leading fund formation lawyer, is a frequent conference speaker and is regularly quoted in the financial press. From 2021 to 2024, he served as Chair of the New York City Bar’s Committee on Private Investment Funds.
Experience
- Harvest Partners on the formation of:
- Harvest Partners IX, a $5.34 billion private equity fund
- Harvest Partners VIII, a $4.03 billion private equity fund
- Harvest Partners Structured Capital Fund III, a $1.28 billion private equity fund
- Harvest Partners Structured Capital Fund II, a $900 million growth equity fund
- numerous co-investment vehicles, including those that focus on credit investments
- Antares Capital on the formation of:
- Antares Senior Loan Fund II, a $6 billion private credit fund
- fund-of-one managed accounts with an Asian sovereign wealth investor
- Golub Capital on the formation of:
- fund-of-one managed accounts with Asian sovereign wealth investors
- a fund-of-one managed account with a U.S. public pension plan
- a separately managed account for a prominent EU-based investment adviser
- Trilantic Capital Management on the formation of:
- Trilantic Capital Partners VI, a $2.75 billion private equity fund
- Trilantic Energy Partners II, a $437 million energy fund
- Trilantic Capital Management on the formation of co-investment vehicles in connection with:
- acquisitions of Addison Group, HealthCare Support Staffing and trustaff Management
- investments in Sunbelt Transformer, Taymax Group and TRP Energy
- a dedicated co-investment vehicle for a U.S. public pension fund
- TruArc Partners (successor to Snow Phipps):
- TruArc Fund IV (and related vehicles), an $841 million private equity fund
- co-investment vehicles for investments in Lamark Media, Molded Devices, Trademark Cosmetics and Watchtower Security
- Lightyear Capital on the formation of:
- Lightyear Fund V, L.P., a $1.52 billion private equity fund
- a single-asset continuation vehicle for their investment in ampliFI
- various co-investment vehicles for an Asian sovereign wealth fund
- GHK Capital Partners on the formation of:
- GHK Fund II, its $870 million second private equity fund
- GHK Fund I, its $410 million inaugural private equity fund
- co-investment vehicles for various investments
- Tailwind Capital on the formation of co-investment vehicles for investments in Brightspot, Smith-Cooper International, Trench Plate Rental and Ventiv Technology
- Godspeed Capital on its strategic partnerships with East Rock Capital
- Cowen Investment Management on the formation of:
- Cowen Sustainable Investments I, a $919 million ESG fund
- co-investment vehicles for investments in ecoATM, ProTerra and quip
Insights
News
Recognition
Chambers USA and Global – Private Equity: Fund Formation
Legal 500 U.S. – Private Equity Funds (Including Venture Capital), Next Generation Partner
IFLR1000 – Private Equity Funds, United States, Highly Regarded
IFLR1000 – Private Equity, United States, Highly Regarded
IFLR1000 – Investment Funds, United States, Highly Regarded
IFLR1000 – M&A, United States, Highly Regarded
Lexology Index (formerly Who’s Who Legal) – Private Funds (Formation, Regulatory), Thought Leader
Private Funds Management – “30 Most Influential Private Equity Lawyers Under the Age of 40,” 2015
Education
- Gerald W. Schwartz Gold Medal
- with high distinction
Prior experience
- Partner, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, 2013-2018
- Associate, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, 2004-2013
Qualifications and admissions
- State of New York