Robin A. Painter is a partner in Proskauer’s market-leading Private Funds Group and was global co-head of that practice for several years. She also previously served as co-head of the Firm's corporate department. She has a global network of clients and contacts developed over her more than 30 years of experience in the private equity and venture capital industry. She advises fund managers, institutional investors and investment advisors on a broad range of issues, including structuring private investment funds, portfolio investments, spin-outs, secondary transactions, internal governance and divestments and distributions.
The majority of Robin’s practice involves representing sponsors in structuring private investment funds and funds of funds and representing U.S. and global institutional investors and investment advisors in the private equity field. She routinely supervises teams of lawyers that represent sponsors in structuring their funds and institutional investors, or their advisors, in their investments across the alternative asset class.
Robin also represents large institutional investors, or their advisors, in connection with the acquisition and sale of secondary partnership interests, and she has been involved in several of the largest bulk purchases of partnership interests in the industry.
Over the last few years, Robin has managed teams of lawyers in fund structuring projects with capital commitments of well over $10 billion, and also has advised clients on significant secondary transactions, spin-outs and restructurings.
Robin has served as an adjunct professor and guest lecturer at several law and business schools, including Harvard School of Law, the Copenhagen Business School, Oxford University, MIT Sloan School, Yale School of Management and Boston College Law School. A frequent lecturer, author and industry board member, Robin takes an active role in the global private equity community. Some of her more recent lecture topics have included:
Private Equity International named Robin one of the “30 most influential lawyers in global private equity” and she is frequently recognized as a leader in the private equity field having received some of the highest ranked awards by national and global publications, including Chambers USA, Chambers Global, The Legal 500, Private Equity International, National Law Journal, The Best Lawyers in America, amongst others.
cum laude
Editor, Boston College International and Comparative Law Review
cum laude
American Bar Association
Boston Bar Association
Massachusetts Bar Association
Private Equity CFO Association (PECFOA) (Advisory Board Member)
Women in Alternative Assets (WIAA) (Advisory Board Member)
Harvard Kennedy School M-RCBG Advisory Council
Chambers Global: USA: Investment Funds: Private Equity: Fund Formation 2019-2024
Chambers Global: USA: Investment Funds: Venture Capital: Fund Formation 2020-2024
Chambers Global 2000-2003, 2007-2020
Chambers USA: Massachusetts: Private Equity: Fund Formation: Star Individual 2003-2023, Senior Statesperson 2024
Chambers USA: Nationwide: Investment Funds: Private Equity: Fund Formation 2008-2023, Senior Statesperson 2024
Chambers USA: Nationwide: Investment Funds: Venture Capital: Fund Formation 2016-2023
The Legal 500 United States Hall of Fame 2017-2024
The Legal 500 United States: M&A/Corporate and Commercial: Venture Capital and Emerging Companies 2020-2023
The Legal 500 United States: Investment Fund Formation: Private Equity Funds (including Venture Capital) 2019-2024
The Legal 500 United States: Investment Fund Formation and Management Private Equity Funds: Leading Lawyer 2014-2016
The Legal 500 United States: Private Equity Fund Formation 2007-2013
The Legal 500 United States: Mergers & Acquisitions: Private Equity Buyouts 2010
The Legal 500 United States: Investment Fund Formation: Venture Capital Funds 2009
Boston's Best Lawyers 2010
National Law Journal: Outstanding Woman Lawyer
“30 most influential lawyers in global private equity,” Private Equity International
Massachusetts Super Lawyers: The Top Women Attorneys in Massachusetts 2013
Massachusetts Super Lawyers 2004-2018
Top 50 Female Massachusetts Super Lawyers
Top 100 Massachusetts Super Lawyers
Top 50 lawyers in the region, New England Super Lawyers
Founding Member of SheGives
Shortlisted for the first-ever Euromoney American Women in Business Law Awards 2012
The International Who’s Who of Private Funds Lawyers 2000, 2002-2006, 2008-2011
PLC Cross-Border Private Equity Handbook 2005-2009
PLC Which Lawyer 2008-2009
Lawdragon “3000 Leading Lawyers in America” 2010
Best Lawyers in America 2006-2024
Expert Guides: Guide to the World's Leading Investment Funds Lawyers 2010
“DigIn’s Top Picks in Boston: Best VC Lawyers” – Boston Digital Industry 2001
Recipient of the 2017 Trailblazer Award at the Women’s Private Equity Summit
Law Business Research’s Who’s Who Legal: Private Funds 2024