A partner in the Paul, Weiss Private Equity M&A Group and General Counsel of the firm, Ken Schneider advises asset managers and public and private companies on M&A and other corporate transactions. Over more than four decades at Paul, Weiss, he has been involved in restructurings and represents buyers and sellers of financially distressed and bankrupt companies. Schneider also advises clients in buying and selling interests in alternative investment managers and has expertise in sports and entertainment transactions.
Representative clients include Oaktree Capital Management, Ares Management, Oak Hill Advisors, Lane42 Investment Partners, Pinegrove Capital Partners, Avenue Capital Group, Crestview Partners, Värde Partners, Silver Point Capital and affiliates of Ray Chambers.
Lawdragon Honors
| Honor | Year | Practice |
|---|---|---|
| The 2027 Lawdragon 500 Leading Dealmakers | 2027 | Private Equity, M&A |
| The 2026 Lawdragon 500 Leading Dealmakers in America | 2026 | Private Equity, M&A |
Schneider’s experience advising clients in M&A transactions includes:
- Canyon Partners in its sale of a 19.9% stake in its business to Dai-ichi Life Holdings, a Japan-based life insurance company
- Oak Hill Capital in the acquisition of Wide Open West and sale of WideOpenWest to Avista Capital Partners
- Sundance Cinemas in its acquisition by Carmike Cinemas
- Thom Browne, head designer and equity holder of his eponymous menswear and womenswear brand, in connection with:
- the acquisition of the company by Ermenegildo Zegna Group, an Italy-based menswear and womenswear brand
- the acquisition of a majority stake in the company by Sandbridge Capital, a New York-based private equity investment firm, from Stripe International, a Japan-based apparel company
- Tops Markets in its merger with Price Chopper/Market 32
Schneider’s experience representing clients in matters related to corporate restructuring includes:
- Salem Harbor Power Development LP and certain of its affiliates in their prearranged chapter 11 cases
- Silver Point Capital as lenders to Tailored Brands
- David’s Bridal in an out-of-court recapitalization transaction which provided for $55 million of new capital from existing lenders and the exchange of more than $275 million in existing term loan debt into new preferred and common equity securities
- Oaktree Capital Management:
- alongside its portfolio company, Azorra Aviation, in its acquisition and recapitalization of certain aircraft owning silos of Nordic Aviation Capital pursuant to a prearranged chapter 11 plan process
- in the $1 billion venture and restructuring with Bain Capital and The Related Companies to form International Market Centers
- in its acquisition of control of Aleris International through a $2.7 billion restructuring pursuant to a chapter 11 plan of reorganization
Schneider’s experience advising clients in asset management M&A transactions includes:
- Abu Dhabi Investment Authority in connection with its investment in Apollo Global Management
- Avenue Capital Group in connection with a minority investment by Morgan Stanley in Avenue
- Ore Hill Partners in connection with its acquisition by Man Group
Schneider’s experience advising clients in the sports and entertainment industry includes:
- Meadowlands Basketball Company, Inc. and Basketball Investors, Inc. in connection with the sale of the majority of the partnership interests of the New Jersey Nets to a group led by Ray Chambers
- YankeeNets LLC (n/k/a Yankee Global Enterprises) in the launch of the Yankees Entertainment & Sports Network (YES Network)
- Puck Holdings LLC, an entity affiliated with YankeeNets LLC, in connection with its acquisition of the New Jersey Devils
- YankeeNets LLC (n/k/a Yankee Global Enterprises) in connection with the restructuring of the ownership of the New York Yankees, New Jersey Nets and New Jersey Devils. Immediately after the restructuring, the Nets were sold to Brooklyn Basketball LLC in anticipation of a move to Brooklyn; YankeeNets LLC was renamed YankeeGlobal Enterprises LLC and continues to own the Yankees; and the parties retained their ownership of the YES Network
- Fear the Deer, the ownership group of the Milwaukee Bucks, in connection with ongoing general representation and counsel on corporate matters