Russell Pinilis is a partner in Willkie’s Tax Department. Russell represents private equity funds and their portfolio companies throughout the life cycle of their funds. He advises on the structuring and formation of private equity funds, negotiation of tax related matters with limited partners, as well on the structuring and negotiation of portfolio acquisitions.
Russell has been representing a broad range of private equity funds and their sponsors for more than 20 years. His experience includes representing publicly traded asset management companies in structuring their business, establishing numerous private equity funds, family office funds and hedge funds. He has represented Fortune 1000 companies, bulge bracket private equity funds, middle market funds, and venture capital funds and hedge funds. He also represents investors in minority positions in acquisitions of investment managers.
The Legal 500 has recognized Russell for his unusually broad experience. He is a frequent author and speaker on tax issues related to private equity structures and transactions.
Experience
Prior to joining Willkie in 2018, Russell was an M&A Tax Principal at KPMG LLP and a partner at Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP.
Russell previously served as an adjunct professor of law at New York Law School where he taught a class entitled "Private Equity Funds.”
Credentials
Education
New York University School of Law, LL.M., 2000 New York University School of Law, J.D., 1996 Franklin and Marshall College, B.A., 1991