Catherine Pogorzelski

Partner
Global Co-chair, Investment Management and Funds
Catherine is an incredibly talented and exceptional lawyer. Her experience in the funds field is unique and outstanding. She combines quality, quantity and effectiveness with consistency and total reliability. Her communication skills and client relationship abilities are remarkable.
Client, IFLR1000 2021
About

Catherine Pogorzelski advises private fund sponsors and institutional investors on the structuring, formation, and fundraising of alternative investment funds, with a particular focus on private equity, infrastructure, real estate, and private credit. Her experience spans secondaries, funds of funds, special situation vehicles, and bespoke strategies across the capital stack.

A dual strategist with deep technical knowledge , Catherine combines a thorough understanding of Luxembourg’s legal and regulatory framework with global market insight. She regularly advises on fund governance, manager and vehicle structuring, regulatory compliance, and cross-border positioning of investment management platforms and their service providers.

Catherine serves as Global Co-Chair of DLA Piper’s Investment Management & Funds sector and led the firm’s Luxembourg office as Managing Partner for a decade. She is Luxembourg’s national representative to the Legal & Regulatory Committee of Invest Europe, and Co-Chair of the Legal Committee of the Luxembourg Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (LPEA). A frequent speaker and lecturer on AIFMD, private fund formation, and market evolution, Catherine also contributes regularly to industry thought leadership and publications.

Deeply committed to social impact, Catherine is a founding board member of Dress for Success Luxembourg, supporting women’s re-entry into the workforce.

Bar AdmissionsAvocat a la Cour admitted to the Barreau de Luxembourg

EXPERIENCE

Catherine's experience includes advising:

  • One of the world's leading real estate asset managers, on the structuring, setting up and launch of a EUR1.5 billion cross-border Real Estate Fund of Funds platform focusing on the Asian market and organized as a special limited partnership (SLP) qualifying as reserved alternative investment fund (RAIF), and on the deployment of its investment strategy.
  • An alternative credit provider, which has supported growth funding for over 120 entrepreneurial businesses across Europe, on structuring, establishment, investor negotiations and first closing of a EUR300 million Luxembourg alternative investment fund. This is organized as a Luxembourg special limited partnership whose investment strategy is to invest and provide debt financing to European growth businesses (SMEs and MidCaps corporate debt), predominantly in the technology, life sciences and environmental sectors in multiple European jurisdictions.
  • A leading investment management firm exclusively focused on alternative real assets, headquartered in Chicago with more than 185 employees and approximately USD29 billion in assets under management, on the structuring, establishment and launch of a complex parallel fund structure composed of 2 RAIFs investing in student accommodation, healthcare assets and other specialty residential investments (such as micro-housing, the private rented sector, serviced apartments and co-living) in Europe and the UK; and on the structuring, establishment and formation of co-investment platforms investing alongside the main funds.
  • A leading Finnish real estate developer and manager on the launch of its first carbon-neutral real estate fund and its Article 9 (dark green fund) requirements, including, in particular, the drafting of relevant pre-contractual disclosures following the implementation of the European regulation on sustainability‐related disclosures in the financial services sector (SFDR)
  • A leading US asset manager on the structuring, implementation and launch of a Luxembourg multi-compartment and multi-strategy alternative investment fund platform, organized as a special limited partnership (SLP) qualifying as reserved alternative investment fund (RAIF), aiming to serve as European distribution platform, with each compartment investing in parallel with US investment funds.
  • The first ever Luxembourg-based European Venture Capital Funds Manager under the EuVECA label, on the structuring, regulatory application, launch and fund raising of a venture capital fund organized as a special limited partnership, whose investment strategy is to invest in the fastest growing digital-native companies, predominantly in Europe, that have the greatest likelihood of becoming next-generation industry category champions.
  • A space-powered radio frequency reconnaissance company on moving from a startup to an emerging corporate, on being the first-ever Luxembourg issuer whose instruments are admitted to listing and trading on the Australian Stock Exchange.
  • A multinational power management company on a global and multi-jurisdictional intra-group restructuring program. Several contributions of foreign companies have been made to the equity of the Luxembourg companies, whose aggregate value exceeded USD1 billion.
  • A leading company in green energy, on the due diligence review, negotiation of fund documents, side letters and execution of its EUR50 million investment in S.A. SICAV-RAIF, investing in a diversified portfolio of largescale renewable energy generation assets, in Nordic countries and Europe, with a focus on sourcing projects with sustainability in environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria.
  • A sovereign wealth fund, on a major co-investment project in Luxembourg, performing legal, tax and regulatory due diligence and a review of the target structure in Luxembourg.
     
Languages
  • English
  • French

Awards and Recognition

  • Legal 500 EMEA 2025: Recognised as a Leading Individual in Investment Funds. Clients commend her "strategic vision and leadership," noting “Catherine Pogorzelski’s strategic vision and leadership are unparalleled. Her ability to navigate complex legal landscapes with ease and provide clear, actionable advice has been invaluable.”
  • Chambers Europe and Chambers Global 2025: Ranked in Band 3 for Investment Funds. Clients highlight her "deep understanding of the relevant law" and strong alignment with business needs, noting “Catherine has a deep understanding of the relevant law and demonstrates a strong grasp of our business and needs from a legal services perspective.” and “She’s pragmatic, responsive, and provides high-quality advice.”
  • IFLR1000 2024: Recognised as a Highly Regarded lawyer in Investment Funds in Luxembourg for her leadership in structuring complex cross-border investment vehicles and advising global sponsors on regulatory and fundraising strategy.
Education
  • Luxembourg Bar School (cours complémentaires), University of Luxembourg, 2005
  • Université de Nancy (France), Master's Degree in Business Law, 2004

Seminars

Memberships And Affiliations

  • Luxembourg Representative, Legal & Regulatory Committee, Invest Europe
  • Founding member and member of the board of directors, Dress For Success Luxembourg
  • Co-Chair of the Legal Committee, Luxembourg Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (LPEA)
  • Active member, Association of the Luxembourg Fund Industry (ALFI)