Mike Dankis

Investment Funds Counsel, New York

"I am an investment funds specialist, advising fund managers and investors on a broad range of investment management matters across asset classes, with a particular focus on private equity, private credit and real assets. I enjoy working with clients on complex cross-border deals and strive to provide practical, solution-driven advice, to help my clients achieve their goals.”

Overview

Professional experience

Education and qualifications

Overview

Mike is a counsel in our investment funds practice in New York who focuses on private equity, private credit, infrastructure and real estate funds, working for a broad range of sponsor and investor clients on fund formation, fund investments and the regulatory framework in which they operate. Mike has deep experience with both the US and European fund markets and regularly advises asset managers on their global mandates.

He was based in the firm’s London office between 2009 and 2015 and has been in New York since 2016.

Mike has been recognized in Chambers (Global and USA) for Private Equity: Fund Formation since 2022. Clients commented that "Mike is pragmatic and solutions-focused and also has great depth of market knowledge." "He is always responsive, commercial, and reliable." "He is a fantastic, details-focused lawyer."

Work highlights

  • Aermont Capital: advising on the establishment of their fifth-generation European-focused opportunistic €3.78bn real estate fund, and previously their fourth generation (€2bn).
  • Aermont Capital: advising on the establishment of their first GP-led secondary vehicle / continuation Fund that was established to acquire and grow the Pinewood Group.
  • Barings: advising on its fund formation across multiple asset classes, including its third generation North American private credit fund, Special Sits 4 fund, a perpetual global credit fund and various rated-note products, its flagship Pan-European core real estate fund, value-add real estate funds and fourth generation global private credit fund.
  • One of the world’s leading global asset managers: advising on its establishment of a US$3bn strategic partnership with a high-profile U.S. government retirement system.
  • SMBC, New York: advising on the establishment of its first and second U.S. direct lending funds.

Professional experience

Mike previously completed a six-month secondment at Deutsche Bank Asset Management.

Education and qualifications

Mike studied law at Girton College, Cambridge.

Mike is qualified as a solicitor in England and Wales and passed the NY Bar in 2024.