About Lance A. Zinman

Lance Zinman, global chair of Katten's Financial Markets and Funds practice, provides comprehensive legal services to asset managers, proprietary trading firms and other participants in the financial markets in need of a single advisor to assist with all aspects of their business. His unique skill set combines a deep understanding of corporate, regulatory, intellectual property and tax law with broad knowledge of the securities and derivatives markets. Using his extensive experience with these interconnected areas, he finds creative solutions to legal challenges while also providing practical, common sense counsel.

Integrated transactional, funds and regulatory counsel

Lance represents hedge funds and commodity pools in all asset classes, private equity funds, investment advisers, commodity trading advisors and other asset managers. He also advises a broad cross section of proprietary trading firms — large and small — including many of the major firms in the industry. Clients in this space have a deep trust for Lance, noting that "[he] is a great funds lawyer and very practical. He provides actionable advice versus some other firms that merely reiterate the law without putting the advice in factual context." (U.S. News – Best Lawyers® "Best Law Firms" 2023).

Originally a corporate attorney, Lance later joined the firm's financial markets and funds group, creating an integrated transactional, funds and regulatory practice. He counsels clients on a wide range of issues, including corporate structuring, securities, futures, derivatives and other regulatory matters, trading issues, brokerage and derivatives documentation, tax planning, intellectual property matters, labor issues, equity and debt financings, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and seed deals.

Having counseled the proprietary trading industry since its inception, Lance has significant experience representing quantitative asset managers and proprietary trading firms that deploy volatility, algorithmic, low-latency and other quantitative trading strategies. In addition, he counsels clients in other sectors of the financial markets, including domestic and foreign exchanges, brokerage firms, swap counterparties and other participants in over-the-counter transactions. Lance also advises clients that are looking to establish a presence internationally or trade directly on foreign exchanges, including advising on the often-complex corporate structuring, tax, intellectual property and regulatory issues associated with such projects.

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"Lance Zinman of Katten is hands down the best hedge funds lawyer around. Lance is much, much more than a lawyer and is a true consigliere."

U.S. News – Best Lawyers® "Best Law Firms" 2023
(Private Funds/Hedge Funds Law) survey response

Practice Focus

  • Investment management, funds and proprietary trading firms
  • Corporate and transactional
  • Securities and broker-dealer regulation
  • Futures and derivatives regulation

News

Publications

Quick Reads

Presentations and Events

Practices
Industries
Education
  • Northwestern University School of Law, JD, cum laude
  • Honors College at Michigan State University, BA, with highest honors
Bar Admissions
  • Illinois
  • New York
Community Involvements
  • American Bar Association
  • Futures Industry Association (FIA)
  • Hedge Funds Care, Board of Directors
  • Managed Funds Association, Board of Directors
  • The Chicago Bar Association
  • Northwestern Law Board
Recognitions
Recognized or listed in the following:
  • Best Lawyers in America
    Private Funds / Hedge Funds Law, 2018–2025
  • Chambers Global
    Hedge Funds, USA, 2025
  • Chambers USA
    Hedge Funds, 2024-2025
  • Chicago Lawyer
    “Next Generation of Leaders,” 2009
  • Citywealth
    Top 15 US Legal Crypto Practitioners, 2022
  • Crain's Chicago Business
    40 Under 40, 2012
    Notable Gen X Leaders in Accounting, Consulting and Law, 2021–2022
  • HFM European Hedge Fund Services Award
    2015
  • HFM US Services Awards
    Best Onshore Law Firm – Start Ups, 2020
  • Law Bulletin Publishing Company
    "40 Under 40 to Watch," 2008
  • The American Lawyer
    Midwest Trailblazer, 2021
  • The Legal 500 United Kingdom
    Recommended Attorney, 2021
  • The Legal 500 United States
    Recommended Attorney, 2014–2025
Award Methodologies