For the second time in 2024, Proskauer’s New York office hosted a small gathering to connect Private Investment Funds (PIF) in-house alumni and current Proskauer attorneys.

This first annual “PIF-giving” was held on November 25 and served as the perfect lead into the Thanksgiving holiday with its special focus on community service and helping others. Attendees came together to assemble bags of groceries on behalf of New York Common Pantry’s newest program, Mobile Pantry, which serves food-insecure New Yorkers directly from their pantry on wheels.

After packing more than 500 bags of food, alumni and attorneys enjoyed cocktails and appetizers alongside friends and former colleagues and had the opportunity to reconnect over holiday plans as well as some of the challenges and trends they anticipate in 2025.

We had alumni in attendance from various firms, including Ares, First Eagle Investments, Lionheart Strategic Management, Onex and RedBird Capital.

While the gathering provided ample opportunity for alumni to reconnect with each other, it was the community service aspect that left a lasting impact on participants.

“The event reminded me how grateful I am to have started my career at Proskauer,” remarked Dan Berger, managing director and head of Tax Insurance at Lockton Companies. “The firm does a great job of fostering an environment of giving back in a variety of ways.”

“It's great to come back to Proskauer and see a lot of familiar faces, reconnecting with people in an atmosphere where we’re all helping to give back,” said Matthew Jill, partner and general counsel of Private Funds and Secondaries at Ares Management.

“One of the things that makes Proskauer special is the people, and the people here are both kind and generous. It's part of the fundamental ethos of Proskauer,” recalled Smriti Kodandapani, director and deputy general counsel at First Eagle Investments. “It’s particularly meaningful to share once again in that kind and generous spirit with former colleagues and alumni, and pack bags of food for New Yorkers in time for Thanksgiving.”