Schulte Roth & Zabel (“Schulte” or “the firm”), a leading law firm focused on private capital, is pleased to announce that Joseph Gambino has joined the firm as a partner in its Finance practice, based in the New York office. Joe brings over two decades of experience in structured credit, with a particular focus on collateralized loan obligations (CLOs) and specialty finance transactions. His arrival marks a significant step forward in the firm’s ongoing strategy to expand its capabilities on both the arranger and manager sides of the CLO market.
Joe’s practice centers on advising arrangers and collateral managers in the CLO space, with additional expertise in regulatory issues and structured lending facilities. He also brings deep knowledge in esoteric ABS and specialty finance transactions — a growing area of demand within Schulte’s finance practice.
“Joe’s addition strengthens our position in the CLO market and significantly expands our ability to represent arrangers, a natural next step for our platform,” said Craig Stein, co-head of the Finance Group. “We’ve long had strong relationships with arrangers, and with Joe’s skill set and reputation, we’re now in an excellent position to fully serve that side of the market.”
Throughout his career, Joe has held senior positions across law firms, investment banks and credit funds, giving him a comprehensive understanding of the finance industry. His diverse background and client-driven approach align with Schulte’s vision for the future.
“Joe has a proven track record of running sophisticated transactions and delivering exceptional client service,” said David Efron, co-managing partner. “He also fills a critical need in our specialty finance practice, which has seen remarkable growth and will benefit from a seasoned deal maker to keep pace. We’ve worked across the table from Joe before and are thrilled to now work alongside him.”
Joe saw the opportunity to join a firm with a robust CLO practice and a strong trajectory for expansion. With his move to Schulte, he says, that goal has been achieved.
“I’m excited to join Schulte’s top-tier finance team and support the continued build out of its CLO platform on both the arranger and manager sides,” said Joe. “The opportunity to grow the firm’s arranger representations, while also contributing to the specialty finance platform, is a perfect fit for the direction of my practice and the needs of my clients.”
Joe joins the firm from Linklaters, where he was a partner in the Capital Markets Group. Prior to his tenure at Linklaters, he held roles at Alston & Bird, Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft, and worked in-house at Merrill Lynch, Stifel Financial Corp, and FSI Capital. Joe earned his BA from Marist College and his JD from Fordham Law School.