The Hedge Fund Journal this month ranked Partner Shelley Rosensweig among the 50 Leading Women in Hedge Funds in 2022. We sat down to talk with Shelley, a member of Haynes Boone’s Investment Management and Private Equity Practice Groups, to learn more about her and her recent successes:
Q: How did you get started working with hedge funds?
I fell into hedge funds and was in the right place at the right time. I had been in practice for about two years or so, and it was a really good time in the market. I wanted a change from the small corporate firm I was at. I went on many interviews at a variety of firms that practiced in vastly different types of law than what I had been doing to date, including securities, finance, banking, M&A and finally hedge funds. I didn’t know anything about any of these practices. I received multiple offers and planned to take the securities offer, but the hedge fund group swooped in and made me an offer I could not refuse. I thought this would be a great career move because a lot of people know a lot about securities law, but not a lot of people know a lot about hedge fund law.
Q: What are some of the biggest changes you have seen in the industry since you helped start Haynes Boone’s Hedge Fund Practice?
When I started out, there was barely any regulation on the hedge fund side. The Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, which governs the investment advisers who advise hedge funds, was very short, and the regulators hadn’t focused their attention on the industry in the way they do now. That changed in 2008 (during the credit crisis), and suddenly there was a lot of attention on the space and the regulatory landscape became more robust. Clients needed a lot of guidance and a lot more legal assistance and resources than in prior years. This was the main reason I came to Haynes Boone in the first place. I wanted my clients to be served in a holistic way and to have access to deep legal resources.
Q: What is the most satisfying part of your practice?
Client interaction provides the most satisfaction. I really know my clients and interact with them regularly. I love seeing them grow and gaining success. I feel very connected and partnered with my client base. Taking care of my clients is my number one priority.
Q: You are involved with Beyond Barriers, which helps companies retain high-performing talent and accelerate success for women. Why is this an important mission for you?
I love Beyond Barriers. The women who co-founded Beyond Barriers are highly accomplished in their own right and work every day on DEI matters. I recently went through one or their programs after being in the right place at the right time. I like the idea of women empowering women and using the voice of current female executives to connect and provide guidance to the younger generation to achieve success. Beyond Barriers is the kind of platform that really focuses on the development of professional women in a comprehensive way.
I encourage you to listen to a podcast about the Beyond Barriers Founders’ Story. These women came from diverse leadership backgrounds with a common goal: to close the gender gap at work and expand economic opportunity for everyone. I was also honored to participate in their podcast series last year, which was a true highlight for me career-wise.
Podcast with Shelley Rosensweig
Click here to listen to a Beyond Barriers podcast with Shelley, titled “Being Prepared to Take the Opportunity.”
