STEPHEN J. D. ROSS has a deep knowledge of the legal and business landscape of asset management from leading private practice and General Counsel roles. He is formerly both a Global Practice Area Coordinator and Head of the London Investment Funds practice area.
Stephen was co-head of the Private Funds group at a UK Magic Circle law firm. During this period, Stephen focused principally on funds supporting illiquid strategies (mainly credit, equity and infrastructure) where he led some of Europe’s largest multi-billion US $ fundraisings. He also developed a strong practice in hedge fund-related structured products. His work was recognized in Chambers, The Legal 500 and Who’s Who Legal where he had a leading ranking. He left the firm to join Man Group plc, which was a major client.
Stephen held several senior legal and business positions (in Switzerland and London) at Man Group plc, the leading alternative investment manager, including as Group General Counsel. Throughout his time at Man GLG, Stephen was a member of the principal Executive Committee which was the principal body responsible for the strategy and management of the entire firm. He was also chairman of the Group Risk Committee and a member of the Finance Committee. In addition to his mainstream legal responsibilities, Stephen had responsibility for product structuring, financing and development, as well as the firm’s regulatory and compliance affairs. For a period, he also ran the firm’s product management and operations. Finally, Stephen executed many asset management/GP deals including the acquisition of GLG Partners. In 2011, under his leadership, Man GLG won the LegalWeek award for “Best In-House Legal Department in the UK.” Stephen was short-listed several times for the individual UK “General Counsel” award by both Legal Week and The Lawyer.
In 2013, Stephen returned to private practice with Sidley in order to develop Sidley’s London based private funds business.
Stephen is recommended in The Legal 500 UK 2023 for both Hedge Funds and Private Funds, one client commented that he has “incredible knowledge of the alternative investment management industry and although his main practice is fund formation and LPs investments. He has been an extremely good sounding board through the grow of our investment management business.” Sources from the 2022 edition describe him as an “incredible, brilliant mind with consistent excellence.”
Chambers UK 2023 ranked Stephen for Investment Funds: Hedge Funds, and commented that "Stephen combines the experience of a heavyweight first-class private practice lawyer with a hugely successful prior career in industry. The result is that he offers an innate understanding of clients’ business needs and commercial solutions to complex legal scenarios," and "he is a phenomenal funds lawyer and teacher whose client services are unparalleled." The 2022 edition ranked him as a “Leading Individual” for Investment Funds: Hedge Funds, with sources stating that “He is commercially-minded and is very helpful for our business.” In the 2021 edition, it was stated that he is “very prompt in his replies and knowledgeable about the market.” Clients also say he is “very approachable, very punchy in his analysis and is extremely friendly with a good manner” (Chambers UK 2019). Stephen is also recognized for private funds in Who’s Who Legal 2022. In the 2017 edition, he was described as “an investment funds guru.” Stephen is also recognized as a “Leading Lawyer” in IFLR1000 2017 for investment funds, in which sources say he has a “very high quality of work, very strong technical knowledge, excellent client service, very responsive.”