Haynes Boone Fund Finance Counsel Karina Oshunkentan has been named a 2025 Rising Star by the Fund Finance Association (FFA).
The FFA selects honorees whose achievements, innovation and leadership are helping to define what is next for the fund finance community. Candidates are evaluated based on professional accomplishments, client service, innovation, inclusion, mentorship and active engagement with the FFA network.
The FFA featured a Q&A with Oshunkentan in their announcement of the honorees. Read an excerpt below.
Q: What first sparked your interest in fund finance?
A: My initial exposure to fund finance came while working on subscription line facilities, having started my career more focused on asset-based lending. What drew me in was the intellectual challenge of navigating a fund’s core governing documents and structuring facilities tailored to its unique framework. As I gained more experience, the deals became increasingly complex—spanning multiple jurisdictions, layered fund structures, and diverse investor profiles. I found myself energized by the variety of fund finance products and the evolving needs of funds at different stages. That complexity—and the opportunity to craft bespoke solutions within it—is what ultimately sparked and continues to sustain my interest in fund finance.
Q: In what ways have you contributed to the growth or development of others in the industry?
A: I play an active role in mentoring junior attorneys—both through our formal mentorship framework and informally, by guiding colleagues during deal execution. I focus not only on strengthening legal skills but also on helping our junior attorneys build commercial awareness and stay attuned to market dynamics. Beyond our firm, I contribute to industry development by speaking at trainings designed for junior professionals—including analysts, attorneys, and others new to fund finance—where I cover foundational concepts in subscription line facilities. I’ve also led training sessions for financial institutions on a broad range of fund finance topics, helping equip their teams with legal insights into the evolving landscape.
Oshunkentan is a counsel in the Finance Practice Group in the Washington, D.C. office of Haynes Boone. She focuses her practice on project finance, subscription finance, commodities finance, and other commercial, secured and unsecured financial transactions. She represents foreign and domestic financial institutions in structuring, documenting and negotiating various commercial financial transactions.
Haynes Boone is a global leader in fund finance, advising U.S. and international banks, private equity sponsors, and funds across North America, Europe, Latin America and Asia. With over 40 years of experience, the firm offers comprehensive support on a wide range of fund finance products—including subscription facilities, NAV loans, GP and co-invest facilities, and hybrid structures. Backed by a team of 70+ professionals, Haynes Boone takes a multidisciplinary approach, collaborating across practices to deliver tailored, efficient solutions that align with market trends, investor needs and legal developments.
