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ATTORNEYS

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Laura T. Schnaidt 
Founder and Managing Partner
laura@paradoxprincipals.com
Bio
Joel-Cohen-Headshot_edited_edited.jpg
Joel Cohen 
Managing Partner
joel@paradoxprincipals.com

Bio

ATTORNEY BIOGRAPHIES

Laura Bio
Laura T. Schnaidt 
Founder and Managing Partner
Laura@paradoxprincipals.com
Biography

Laura Schnaidt is the Founder and Managing Partner of Paradox Principals LLP. Ms. Schnaidt previously served as a senior attorney at premier global law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP in the corporate department and investment management group where she advised the world's top private fund clients on fund formation, operating and regulatory issues. Ms. Schnaidt also previously worked as an associate attorney at premier global law Shearman & Sterling LLP (A&O Shearman), in the corporate department, where she advised blue chip private fund and financial institution clients.

In addition to her private practice, Ms. Schnaidt has extensive fund operating experience and has prior stints as in-house counsel to blue chip fund managers, serving three times as a General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer. Most recently, Ms. Schnaidt served as the General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer of Blue Torch Capital, a leading credit fund manager with over $8 billion of assets under management. During law school, Ms. Schnaidt worked in the New York office of the Enforcement Division of the SEC, in the Asset Management Unit, Private Funds Unit, gaining valuable insights into the regulation of private funds.

Prior to law school, Ms. Schnaidt started her career in the asset management industry as an associate at two multi-strategy hedge fund managers, which each managed over $10 billion, where she gained an appreciation for how to resourcefully scale an investment management business. Ms. Schnaidt is an enthusiastic member of the investment management industry and founded Women in Funds, a business community that brings together over 400 members of the investment management industry for networking and education. 

Admissions:

New York

Education:

Columbia University, B.A.

New York Law School, J.D. (magna cum laude), Law Review Editor

Press:

Trailblazing Women Shaping Innovation in Investment Management

Hedge Fund Alert, "Outsourced General Counsel Firm Grows", October 29, 2025

Public Speaking and Publications:

Leasing Space in New York City: A Practical Guide for Tech Start-Ups

Member of New York City Bar Association (Private Funds Committee Voting Member 2020-2023)

Speaker at Practising Law Institute's presentation on Hedge Fund Management (2022-2025)

"Navigating DEI in a Charged Political Environment",  Hedge Fund Law Report (Nov. 20, 2025)

Distinctions:

2025 Top 50 Women in Investment Management

2025 and 2024 Women in Finance Award, finalist

2022 NYC Urban Debate League Excellence in Speech and Debate Award

2013 W/X Women Executives in Real Estate Award

2013 David Finkelstein Writing Award

Prior Firm Affiliations:

Ospraie Management; TPG-Axon; Shearman & Sterling LLP (A&O Shearman); Marble Arch Investments; Monticello Asset Management; Blue Torch Capital; Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP

Practice Highlights

Ms. Schnaidt navigates investment management legal and operating issues and concentrates her practice on the formation, launch and ongoing operation of private investment funds, including private equity funds, distressed and credit funds, hybrid funds, hedge funds and co-investment vehicles, and their respective management companies. Ms. Schnaidt advises investment management clients on regulatory compliance issues related to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and Securities and Exchange Commission regulations. She represents clients in a wide range of startup and growth environments, including during periods of transition and disputes. She advises on "upper-tier" and management company issues and private funding rounds.

As prior in-house counsel to multiple investment managers, Ms. Schnaidt had significant involvement in all aspects of the business, including overseeing the legal administrative functions, fundraising, regulatory compliance and SEC exams and inquiries, cybersecurity, hiring and employment contracts, corporate governance, investor facing communications, management of day-to-day and back office operations, private funding rounds and the creation of firm-wide foundational documents and policies for legal, compliance, HR, ESG and asset management departments.

Select Representative Matters

Ms. Schnaidt draws on her extensive background as in-house counsel to provide strategic legal and business counseling to her clients on a wide range of matters. She is a problem solver and trusted advisor, providing responsive and pragmatic advice with the utmost integrity, discretion and care for her clients. Select representative matters include:

Investment
Management Matters

Advised the manager to a family of real estate funds on its investment transactions, fund formation, marketing efforts, employment issues and upper tier strategy issues.

Advised the manager of a newly established real estate fund on the launch of a fund and related organizational issues including fundraising.

Advised the manager of a hedge fund on the restructuring of an existing fund, including an amendment of global fund documents and ongoing regulatory and operating issues.

Represented a hedge fund manager in the establishment of a new fund and ongoing operating and employment issues and limited partner negotiations.

Represented a $3.5B AUM venture capital firm in the formation of its sixth fund ($700 million) and negotiation of side letters, placement agreements, ongoing operational matters, and regulatory advice.

Represented a $1B AUM middle market private equity firm in its ongoing operational, employee, management company, and fund legal matters.

Represented a middle market credit fund manager with +$7B AUM in its ongoing operational, employee, management company, and fund legal matters including the establishment of a $2 billion fund.

Represented the founder to a private equity fund manager with $4B AUM in the negotiation of the upper tier agreement among the founders.

 

Represented a hedge fund manager with $2.5B AUM in the creation of a succession plan.

Represented an emerging manager in the establishment of its $1.8B hybrid fund.

 

Represented an established hedge fund manager with $7B AUM in connection with the restructuring of its flagship long-short equity hedge fund, ERISA hardwiring, liquidating SPV, and ongoing negotiations and communications with institutional investors.

 

Represented a global asset manager in the establishment of a $2B master-feeder credit hedge fund and the ongoing investor negotiations and operating matters in an existing credit hedge fund with $2B AUM.

Represented a global credit-oriented asset manager in the establishment of a fund-of-one.

Represented a global asset manager in the establishment of a $2B credit fund of one.

Represented a hedge fund manager with $2.5B AUM in connection with its ongoing legal and compliance matters.

Advised a $2.4B hedge fund manager on the dissolution of its business and wind-down of its funds.

Advised on the build-out of an asset management review protocol for a real estate manager and REIT.

Represented a real estate fund and REIT manager with +$1B AUM in connection with its ongoing legal and compliance matters, investor negotiations and asset management.

Advised a credit manager on the establishment of a VCOC (venture capital operating company) strategy and the negotiation of management rights letters with creditors.

Advised a firm on a partnership dispute among partners of a private equity fund and the separation of a key partner.

Advised a firm on a partnership dispute among partners of a venture fund and the separation of of a key partner.

Advised a hedge fund founder in a dispute among partners.

Advised on the legal and business aspects of fund managers' marketing materials, including pitch decks, one-pagers, websites, investor communications (including quarterly letters and annual meetings).

Advised managers on the drafting of daily operating and compliance policies and procedures, interpretation of fund document provisions, common operating issues such as the calculation of the management fee, and routine communications with trading counterparties.

Oversaw the review and negotiation of a hedge fund manager's suite of trading documents, including prime brokerage agreements and ISDAs.

Compliance and Regulatory Matters

Oversaw the SEC exam of a private fund manager resulting in no material deficiencies.

Built and implemented the compliance program for various private fund managers, including advising on regulatory filings (13F, 13D, 13G, Form PF, Form ADV, NFA exemptions) and drafting compliance policies and procedures.

Advised various fund managers on management of the receipt of MNPI, expert networks and related compliance procedures.

Advised on routine and non-routine regulatory communications from the SEC and global regulators to various private fund managers., including filing obligations and inquiries.

Advised various fund managers on the analysis and implementation of SEC rules and applicable securities laws (including The Investment Advisers Act of 1940, The Securities Act of 1933, Regulation D).

Litigation Management and Risk Management

Directed a hedge fund manager on its activist strategy as a plaintiff in a class action lawsuit directed at a German automaker, including U.S. and German litigation and interfacing with litigation financiers.

Oversaw an auction process to sell a hedge fund manager's litigation claims.

Advised various private fund managers on pre-litigation risk management and dispute resolution issues with counterparties and regulators.

Managed class action litigation in Delaware Chancery Court for an operating company during a proxy battle.

Corporate
Matters

Represented a quasi-public bitcoin miner as it built out its corporate and mining operations following emergence from bankruptcy, including managing the annual meeting and a proxy battle against activists.

Advised a founder of an applied AI company on their commercial service contracts and equity agreements with customers and partners.

Advised a startup company on the separation of a founding executive.

Represented a commercial real estate operator in connection with a working capital loan.

Advised an executive on various employment and partnership issues including the negotiation of an employment agreement.

Managed and advised on corporate governance, board dynamics and board meetings for various operating companies and private fund managers.

*Some of the matters above were handled prior to joining Paradox Principals

Joel Bio
Joel Cohen 
Managing Partner
Joel@paradoxprincipals.com
Biography

Joel Cohen is an attorney and an entrepreneur bringing a unique perspective to legal advisory. A graduate of Duke Law School, Mr. Cohen spent a number of years working as a corporate associate at one of the world's top corporate firms, Skadden, Arps, in Mergers & Acquisitions.  Mr. Cohen provides direct client assistance and advice to the next generation of innovative companies and their creators. Mr. Cohen is also the founder of the legal education website Talks on Law, a leading online destination to learn about law.

 

Mr. Cohen has over a decade of experience representing clients ranging from Coca-Cola to the blockchain company R3 and from the NHL to the consumer product company Casper Sleep. 

Admissions:

New York

Education:

Wake Forest University, B.A.

Duke University School of Law, J.D., LLM in International and Comparative Law

Other Business Affiliations:

Talks On Law​

Women in Funds

Prior Firm Affiliation:

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

Practice Highlights

Mr. Cohen's practice focuses on advising founders, entrepreneurs, dreamers, visionaries, artists and creatives. Prior client representations include founders of successful tech companies, celebrities, online personalities, and award winning artists. Mr. Cohen regularly advises growth companies on partnerships, new ventures and on strategic negotiations to manage risk. He also advises creatives on collaborations and partnerships.

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