LIZ SCHUBERT is a partner in Sidley’s Investment Funds practice group and a global co-chair of Sidley’s OTC Derivatives industry group. Since 2003, Liz has worked exclusively with buy-side clients, primarily investment fund managers to hedge funds. While Liz’s clients are diverse in the strategies they pursue, they have one thing in common — trading is at the core to their business. Liz advises these clients comprehensively in this area. She guides them on issues ranging from global regulatory developments, counterparty risk management, new product development, and strategies for negotiating trading contracts. Liz’s clients are global in scope and include a significant percentage of the world’s largest hedge fund managers. This rich and diverse client base gives Liz a unique perspective on the terms that top flight clients seek and obtain in their trading agreements. She uses this knowledge to every client’s advantage in setting realistic goals and achieving commercial, efficient results.
A key point of distinction for Liz’s practice is her longstanding experience working with buy-side clients. She has advised clients on their trading agreements through some pivotal episodes, from the collapses of institutions like Refco, Bear Stearns, Lehman, and MFGlobal to the global regulatory changes that continue to influence this market. These events raised complicated legal questions leading to regulatory changes that require clients to rethink how to manage leverage and risk.
Many of the legal issues affecting trade agreements in today’s landscape are interdisciplinary. Liz understands this and has worked closely with her Sidley colleagues to meet this need. Together they have developed specialized pockets of knowledge and experience for buy side derivatives clients in related practice areas like Employee Benefits; Tax; EMIR, Securities, Derivatives Enforcement, and Regulatory; Restructuring; SEC regulatory; and Financial Institution Regulation. This collaboration enables Liz and her team to advise clients on a 360° basis in today’s evolving regulatory environment.
Liz is a frequent speaker in the area of derivatives at leading industry conferences sponsored by industry thought leaders like Managed Funds Association, the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, GAIM Ops Cayman, Columbia Law School, and Harvard Law School. Liz also frequently speaks on regulatory reform and clearing of derivative transactions. She is published in this area.
HONORS AND AWARDS
Liz has been recognized as one of the world’s top lawyers in Private Funds by Who’s Who Legal since 2018. In addition, she is listed as a “Best Lawyer” in the 2015 – 2019 editions of The Best Lawyers in America in Private Funds/Hedge Funds Law.
Sidley’s award-winning Investment Funds group provides top-tier service to all aspects of the private funds industry. Chambers USA awarded the group top band rankings in Hedge Funds every year since 2008. Sidley has also been named “Law Firm of the Year” in Private Funds/Hedge Funds Law in U.S. News – Best Lawyers 2022 “Best Law Firms.”