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 2022 for both hedge funds and private funds, clients commented that he has an “incredible, brilliant mind with consistent excellence.”
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.” Chambers UK 2021 ranked him as a “Leading Individual” for Investment Funds: Hedge Funds, with sources describing him as “very prompt in his replies and knowledgeable about the market.” In the 2019 edition, it was stated that he is “very approachable, very punchy in his analysis and is extremely friendly with a good manner.” Clients also say he is “accommodating and a very good project manager, he can co-ordinate the transaction and move things forward” (Chambers UK 2017). Stephen has been recognized for private funds in Who’s Who Legal 2017, where he is described as “an investment funds guru.”