Internationally recognized in the commercial lending, private equity, and fund finance spheres, Zac Barnett, attorney in Chicago has nearly two decades of experience. Deeply knowledgeable about the intricacies of investment fund vehicles, attorney Zac Barnett has developed creative fund financing structures for lenders and borrowers alike.
Mr. Barnett’s experience as a lawyer spans a diversity of lending facilities, including open-end fund structures, hedge funds, and private placements. A particular area in which he is knowledgeable is REITS and private equity real estate funds, and he has designed financing platforms from the ground up that meet core client needs and requirements.
Mr. Barnett is positioned as a strong advocate for clients who is able to anticipate legal and compliance challenges and proactively move major transactions forward. In total he has closed in excess of 500 lending deals in his work as a lawyer, which together represented loan commitments in the $75 billion range.
Zac Barnett is a prolific author and has written and co-written more than three dozen thought pieces on topics that include fund financing products and associated regulatory developments.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
Every day starts at 6 am. I have three relatively young kids, so the first 60-90 minutes of the day is getting them ready for school, camp, etc. My workday begins at 7:30 am or 8 am. We have a team call at 8:30 am where we review the status of all our transactions. Morning is often spent reviewing various loan documents, model outputs, proposals, etc. I try and schedule most of the client calls for the afternoon. I try to make it home for dinner with the family at 6 pm. My wife and I try to get the kids down by 8 pm and then I usually need to work for another 60 to 90 minutes before calling it a night around 11 pm. I’ve been in private equity/fund finance for 25 years now, so being productive is fairly hard wired. I enjoy working side by side my other FFP team members and we have great clients, so it’s easy to be productive and make sure we achieve optimal outcomes for them.
How do you bring ideas to life?
Collaboration always precedes execution. I rely on the team here at FFP to make sure any ideas we have are quickly developed into team ideas. If we like those ideas and want to execute on them, then we operate on the basis of shared responsibility and collectively delegate tasks in relation to various team member strengths.
What’s one trend that excites you?
Certainly excited about the advent of artificial intelligence and its impact in fund finance and, of course, in our everyday lives. I think this is not a trend but rather a tidal wave of new developments that will bring about more change than most expect.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
Structure. I find building consistency in my work and personal life allows me to stay on schedule and complete the vast majority of tasks I set out to accomplish.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Life is a marathon not a sprint; exercising patience can pay off in the long run.
Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you on?
I believe that what humans consume/digest in terms of books, movies, literature, media, etc. is as important to our mental health as the consumption of food is to our physical health.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
Prepare. Whether it’s preparing for a presentation/pitch at work, taking an exam at school, etc., preparing is the key to successful outcomes. Those that do not prepare (or don’t prepare well) are often unsuccessful.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
Spend time with my wife and children, as they quickly provide the proper perspective and remind me what is important in life.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
First principles. I don’t necessarily think I’m the most brilliant human, so I often start off with trying to understand a particular problem set or issue by breaking it down to its simplest components. This train of thought has allowed me to build successful businesses within larger firms, as well as smaller firms. Specifically, a first principles strategy has helped me find more efficient financing structures and transaction closing techniques, which has in turn allowed for new/innovative transactions, as well as a through line to faster execution timelines.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
I have mentored a number of successful attorneys/finance professionals, but I also feel I’ve failed in helping a number of talented people. I’ve pondered why I failed in those instances, and I could/should have been more attentive to the mentee’s perspective when it comes to work-life balance and general working style. I believe I’ve improved in that area, and I’m now much more tolerant of individual and generational differences, which allows me to better connect with a wider range of folks with whom I work.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
Artificial intelligence. Gemini, ChatGPT, etc. We use AI on a daily basis to assist with structuring transactions, modeling various financing scenarios, etc.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
Regarding a book, I just finished rereading The Sound and the Fury by Faulkner. Had read it 20 years ago and had forgotten the many valuable lessons contained therein regarding family, changing times, and, of course, the vicissitudes of life. Regarding podcasts, like many, many others, I enjoy the All-In podcast to stay up to date on politics, the worlds of technology and finance, etc.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
I recently saw Oppenheimer and enjoyed it. Aside from the excellent acting, writing, etc., I found it fascinating learning how the US handled the discovery of such a powerful force in atomic energy, as I believe there are likely some parallels to the onset of artificial super intelligence, which may be coming sooner rather than later.
Key learnings
- Bringing ideas to life is a collaborative effort based in shared responsibility and collectivity delegating tasks according team member strengths.
- Effective preparation is paramount to success.
- Tolerance of generational and individual differences fosters stronger relationships—which are vital to professional success, especially early in your career—and allow you to connect with a wider range of people.
- Structure and consistency in work and personal life helps with staying productive and remaining on schedule.