Michael D. Saarinen, partner and Co-chair, Fund Formation & Structuring, has received Lexology's 2025 Client Choice Award in the Private Funds category. Established in 2005, the Client Choice Awards honor partners around the world who stand apart for the excellent client care they provide and the quality of their service. The criteria for this recognition focus on an ability to add real value to clients' business above and beyond the other players in the market. Nominations for the award can only be made by in-house counsel.
Saarinen is the only private funds lawyer to have received the Client Choice Award each of the past five years. Comments from his clients include: "Michael brings a sensible approach that breaks down complicated legal situations in a way that startups can understand;" "He provides actionable advice and helps triage concerns, making it easy to prioritize actions;" "He brings a great deal of careful thought and care for his clients, and he knows when to leverage resources from other practice areas in helpful and appropriate ways."
The award marks Saarinen as a Lexology Index 2025 Global Elite Thought Leader in the category of Client Choice – Private Funds. This distinction is reserved for a select group of listed practitioners at the peak of the profession.
Saarinen was also honored by Lexology Index as a 2025 Thought Leader in the fields of Private Funds – Formation, and Private Funds – Regulatory.
Saarinen is a leader in the investment management community, with over two decades of experience advising U.S. and global fund sponsors and principals on the structuring and formation of private investment funds and related advisory businesses. His practice focuses on the establishment and operation of funds across all major asset classes and strategies, including buyout, growth equity, venture capital, real estate, hedge, credit, distressed debt, special situations, and fund-of-funds.