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Lowenstein Sandler
Lowenstein Sandler was founded in 1961 in Newark, New Jersey, by Alan V. Lowenstein, and has since evolved into a multi-office Am Law 200 firm headquartered in...
Lowenstein Sandler
Lowenstein Sandler was founded in 1961 in Newark, New Jersey, by Alan V. Lowenstein, and has since evolved into a multi-office Am Law 200 firm headquartered in Roseland. While the firm is structured as a traditional law practice, its venture capital and private equity practices operate with a distinct investment-oriented posture, providing legal counsel to fund managers and portfolio companies while principals like Ed Zimmerman actively participate in angel networks and startup ecosystems. Beyond conventional legal advisory, Lowenstein Sandler functions as a deal-flow pipeline through VentureCrush, the invitation-only New York angel group Zimmerman co-founded. The firm's practice spans fund formation, direct co-investment structuring, and regulatory counsel for venture capital, private equity, and hedge fund clients. It has acted as legal counsel to Catalyst Investors and Moelis Capital Partners on fund launches and portfolio acquisitions. Sector exposure concentrates in enterprise software, fintech, digital health, and AI — reflecting the venture-backed startup base the firm serves from its Palo Alto, New York, and Washington, D.C. offices. Lowenstein Sandler operates across five US offices, with the heaviest transactional activity concentrated in its New York and Palo Alto hubs. The firm participates in the TerraLex global legal network as the member firm for New Jersey, New York City, and Washington, D.C., extending cross-border deal capabilities. Its roster includes representation of emerging growth companies, mid-market private equity firms, and hedge funds, with active participation in the Managed Funds Association. No firm-wide AUM is applicable given its law firm structure, but the aggregate fund value of clients it advises runs into the tens of billions, based on the scale of venture and private equity vehicles it counsels on formation and compliance. Lowenstein Sandler occupies an unusual structural position: it is a law firm whose venture practice functions as an institutional node within the New York early-stage ecosystem. Unlike fundless sponsors or fund-of-funds, it monetizes deal flow indirectly through hourly and alternative fee arrangements, while VentureCrush gives its partners direct angel exposure. This hybrid model — law firm revenue base plus personal angel network — creates a sourcing advantage that pure legal practices and pure investment firms each lack.
General information
Firm type
Pension Fund
Year founded
1961
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Roseland
Corporate office
One Lowenstein Drive, Roseland, NJ 07068, United States
Additional offices
New York, NY · Washington, D.C. · Palo Alto, CA · Centerville, UT
Principals
Gary M. Wingens
Chairman and Managing Partner
Ed Zimmerman
Chair, Emerging Companies & Venture Capital Group
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at Lowenstein Sandler?
Lowenstein Sandler is a law firm, not an asset manager, so it does not make investment decisions on behalf of pooled capital. However, Ed Zimmerman chairs the Emerging Companies & Venture Capital Group and co-founded VentureCrush, an angel network where he and other partners make personal investments. The firm's Chairman and Managing Partner, Gary Wingens, oversees the firm's strategic direction across all practice areas.
How does Lowenstein Sandler source proprietary deal flow?
Deal flow channels through VentureCrush, the invitation-only angel network co-founded by Ed Zimmerman that connects founders with experienced angel investors and venture capitalists in New York and Silicon Valley. The firm's legal representation of hundreds of emerging growth companies, venture funds, and private equity firms provides additional visibility into transactions before they reach broader markets.
Is Lowenstein Sandler structured as a law firm or does it operate more like a venture firm?
Lowenstein Sandler is a law firm — an Am Law 200 limited liability partnership — and derives its revenue from legal fees. However, its venture capital and private equity practices blur the line through deep embeddedness in the startup and fund ecosystem, including the VentureCrush angel platform, direct partner angel investing, and close strategic relationships with fund managers like Catalyst Investors.
Does Lowenstein Sandler participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?
As a law firm, Lowenstein Sandler does not commit institutional capital to funds. Its partners invest personally through VentureCrush and other angel vehicles. The firm's practice focuses on advising fund managers on formation, structuring, and regulatory compliance, and advising portfolio companies on venture rounds and exits.
Which sectors does Lowenstein Sandler explicitly avoid?
The firm does not publish explicit exclusion lists. Its venture and private equity practices concentrate on enterprise software, fintech, digital health, and AI. Industries with heavy litigation exposure — such as tobacco or firearms — are not visible in its transactional practices, consistent with its broader Am Law 200 client profile.
How does VentureCrush relate to Lowenstein Sandler?
VentureCrush was co-founded by Ed Zimmerman, a partner and chair of the Emerging Companies & Venture Capital Group at Lowenstein Sandler. It operates as a separate angel network but draws heavily on the firm's professional network, hosting curated events and investment discussions in New York and Palo Alto. The firm's attorneys use it as a platform for personal angel activity and client development.
Does Lowenstein Sandler maintain philanthropic structures?
The Alan V. and Amy Lowenstein Foundation, established by the firm's founder, operates as an independent philanthropic entity. Separately, the Lowenstein Center for the Public Interest coordinates the firm's pro bono legal work across its offices, focusing on immigration, civil rights, and nonprofit representation.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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