Dechert said Thursday that former Schulte Roth & Zabel partner Omoz Osayimwese had joined its global private funds practice, the fifth addition to the group in the past 12 months.

Osayimwese, a partner based in New York, said in an interview that Dechert reached out to him and he was motivated to join the firm because of its global presence. While Schulte Roth is well-regarded and known for its work with hedge funds, he said, the overwhelming majority of its lawyers are in New York. With Dechert's overseas infrastructure, he said, there's less need to bring in other firms for work in places such as Luxembourg and Ireland.

"Dechert has a very large international platform, and that was something that appealed very much to me," he said. He added that the experiences of former colleagues who had also moved to Dechert gave him comfort.

In its announcement of Osayimwese's hiring, Dechert said he was the fifth partner to join its global financial services and investment practice since January 2019, when Carol Widger joined in Dublin and Marianna Tothova joined in London. Since then, the firm said, it added Thiha Tun in London and Ciara O'Leary in Dublin.

Osayimwese advised on the $1.05 billion sale of LNR Property to Starwood Property Trust and Starwood Capital Group, according to a 2013 announcement. Osayimwese declined to comment on his work for specific clients. He said his move was partly driven by the business he was bringing over and partly driven by what his skill set could add to Dechert.

Osayimwese described himself as a private equity funds formation lawyer, broadly construed to include not just buyout funds, but also real estate funds, credit funds and more. While he said he mostly represents sponsors, he also advises big investors on forming and structuring funds. If the economy were to weaken, he said, he would probably have more work in the distressed investment fund area.

His departure from Schulte Roth comes after some 15 years at the firm, which he said he joined in 2004 after about four and a half years as an associate at Debevoise & Plimpton. Schulte Roth said in a statement that it wished him well.

"Omoz Osayimwese is a colleague and friend," a Schulte Roth media representative said in an email. "He was a member of our preeminent investment Management Group for many years advising the industry's leading private investment funds. We wish him continued success."