Lowenstein Sandler Named New Venture Fund Co-Chairs
The firm appointed Marie T. DeFalco and Sara R. Werner to lead its national Venture Funds Launch Group.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Startups
Lowenstein Sandler has named Marie T. DeFalco and Sara R. Werner as the new co-chairs of its Venture Funds Launch Group. The firm currently maintains a ranking among the top seven U.S. firms for Venture Capital fund formation according to Chambers Global.
Why it matters
This leadership update signals a focus on the firm's established practice in navigating complex fund formation for venture managers across its national offices. The team integrates cross-practice expertise to support the lifecycle of venture capital entities.
The firm, which employs over 400 lawyers, relies on a integrated legal model to support fund clients. DeFalco and Werner bring a combined 45 years of experience in private funds and venture fund launches to the practice.
The players
Marie T. DeFalco
A legal expert with over 25 years of experience in private fund formation and one of 24 attorneys ranked by Chambers Global for Venture Capital fund formation.
Sara R. Werner
A legal practitioner with over 20 years of experience specializing in the launch and management of private venture funds.
Lowenstein Sandler
A national law firm with over 400 attorneys that provides legal services to the technology and venture capital sectors.
The details
The Venture Funds Launch Group operates by pooling attorneys from specialized departments including tax, compensation, employment, litigation, and regulatory practice. This structure allows the group to collaborate directly with the firm's Emerging Companies & Venture Capital Group to manage the legal requirements of venture fund managers. The team coordinates resources across offices in New York, Palo Alto, Roseland, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and Wilmington.
Timeline
Lowenstein Sandler announced the appointment of the new co-chairs on September 24, 2026.
The Tech Race
Lowenstein Sandler maintains its competitive position as one of seven firms cited by Chambers Global for top-tier Venture Capital fund formation. This leadership transition sustains the firm's focus on the specialized needs of venture fund managers within the broader legal services landscape.
Venture fund managers and emerging companies working with the firm will interact with this new leadership structure starting immediately. The appointment centralizes oversight for legal services ranging from employment to tax compliance for venture fund clients.
The takeaway
The appointment of DeFalco and Werner consolidates decades of fund-formation experience at a firm already highly ranked by Chambers Global. Readers should watch for future updates to the firm's emerging company advisory services as the new co-chairs shape the group's priorities.
Further reading
Explore deeper analysis on trends in the legal and financial ecosystem at Startups.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Globallegalchronicle.
