Seward & Kissel Promotes Seven Lawyers to Partner

Sophia Agathis, Jay Baroody, Kevin Cassidy, Brett Cotler, Bradley Fay, Noelle Indelicato, and Sagar Patel Join 2024 Partner Class

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Seward & Kissel LLP is pleased to announce that counsel Jay Baroody, Kevin Cassidy, and Sagar Patel and associates Sophia Agathis, Brett Cotler, Bradley Fay, and Noelle Indelicato have been promoted to partner, effective January 1, 2024.

“While these lawyers each bring unique gifts to our firm, they are all alike in delivering tremendous value to the clients they counsel,” said Seward & Kissel managing partner Jim Cofer. “This year’s partner class reflects both the strengths of our firm and the breadth of areas that we cover.”

Sophia Agathis, a key member of the firm’s Maritime and Transportation Group and Corporate Finance Group, represents both lenders and borrowers in connection with debt financing and other credit transactions. She has been recognized as a Rising Star by both Legal 500 and Super Lawyers, and has helped execute deals recognized as “Deal of the Year” by Lloyd’s List Americas and “Editor’s Choice Deal of the Year” by Marine Money. Agathis received her B.A. from Swarthmore College and her J.D. from Fordham University School of Law.

Jay Baroody, a member of the Investment Management Group, advises sponsors and managers of private funds including hedge funds, private equity funds, and funds of funds on their formation and ongoing management. This year he co-authored the influential Seward & Kissel New Manager Hedge Fund Study, an analysis of trends among newly formed hedge funds. He received his B.A., with high honors, from the University of Texas at Austin, and his J.D., cum laude, from Fordham University School of Law.

Kevin Cassidy, another member of the Investment Management Group, advises institutional, emerging, and first-time managers of private investment funds on formation and other legal issues. He also represents wealth and investment advisers. Cassidy writes frequently on topics of interest to investment advisers and, with Baroody, co-authored this year’s Seward & Kissel New Manager Hedge Fund Study. He received his B.A., magna cum laude, from The George Washington University and his J.D., magna cum laude, from Albany Law School, where he served on the editorial board of the Albany Law Review.

Brett Cotler, a member of the Taxation Group, advises private investment funds and public and private companies on U.S. federal income tax matters, including international tax issues. He recently advised Kennedy Lewis on tax aspects of its formation of a master fund with $4.1 billion in capital commitments. He is a contributor to Seward & Kissel’s cryptocurrency and blockchain blog, SKrypto. Cotler received his B.A., summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, from the Rutgers School of Arts and Sciences and his J.D., cum laude, from Rutgers Law School, where he was a member of the Order of the Coif. He also received an LL.M. in Taxation from New York University School of Law.

Brad Fay, who practices in the firm’s ERISA and Executive Compensation & Employee Benefits groups, focuses his practice on ERISA and Internal Revenue Code compliance issues. The wealth of ERISA-related matters on which he counsels clients includes the investment of plan assets, fiduciary duties, and prohibited transactions. He received his B.A., summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, from Fairfield University, and his J.D. from Boston College Law School.

Noelle Indelicato, a member of the Investment Management Group, has been recognized by the International Finance Law Review 1000 as a Rising Star in advising hedge funds and private equity funds. Her work was also cited by Legal 500 in its ranking of Seward & Kissel for excellence in investment fund formation and management for private equity and venture capital funds. She received her B.A., summa cum laude, from Boston College and her J.D., cum laude, from Fordham University School of Law.

Sagar Patel, a member of the Global Bank and Institutional Finance Group, has vast experience representing corporate trustees and other clients in complex financing transactions, including collateralized loan obligations and collateralized debt obligations. In his pro bono practice, he recently obtained cancellation of removal for a low-income individual in immigration court, and has volunteered for a non-partisan, national call center dedicated to ensuring that all citizens can exercise their right to vote. He received his B.A. from Rutgers University and his J.D. from Fordham University School of Law.

About Seward & Kissel LLP

Seward & Kissel LLP, founded in 1890, is a leading U.S. law firm with offices in New York City and Washington, D.C., with particular expertise in the financial services, investment management, banking, and shipping industries. The firm is well known for its representation of investment advisers and related investment funds, broker-dealers, major commercial banks, institutional investors, and transportation companies (particularly in the shipping area). Its practices primarily focus on corporate, M&A, securities, litigation (including white collar), restructuring/bankruptcy, real estate, regulatory, tax, employment, and ERISA for clients seeking legal expertise in these areas.