Mr. Scharfenberg, a New Orleans native, joined the firm as an associate in April 2007. He has practiced in New York at major law firms and in-house at investment banks, and has significant experience with securitizations and other structured finance transactions, as well as general corporate and business law.

Since joining us, Ned's primary practice areas have been negotiated acquisitions and corporate law.  He has assisted an insurance company being acquired by a large national agency; assisted a CEO and CFO in connection with the rollover of their equity interest in a shipping business whose controlling equity was sold to a private equity firm; assisted a family member in the sale to other family members of a share of a shipping business; represented a local bank in a branch sale to another local bank; and represented a bank holding company in its merger with another bank holding company. 

Ned has also negotiated the operating agreement between the principals of, and provided ongoing corporate counsel to, an asset manager that manages a substantial portion of the funds under management of a multi-billion dollar hedge fund, and counseled a fund-of-funds with respect to amendments to its limited partnership agreement.  He has assisted several clients with private placements and other financings, including secured and unsecured credit facilities and issuances of preferred stock.

Ned attended Princeton University, from which he graduated magna cum laude with an A.B. degree in English literature.  After spending a year in Germany on a Fulbright grant, he continued his studies in English at Oxford, where he completed an M.Phil degree. He holds a J.D. degree from the University of Virginia School of Law, and speaks German fluently.

Ned is admitted to practice in Louisiana and New York, and is a member of the Louisiana Bar Association and the Association of the Bar of the City of New York. With Steven Serio, he co-teaches an M&A Skills course at Loyola University College of Law. In addition, Ned serves on the board of Advocacy for the Arts and Technology in New Orleans, Louisiana, Inc. (the governing board for Crocker Arts and Technology School, a charter school in New Orleans) and the Alumni Board of Isidore Newman School.