Our Team
Jill Abitbol
As Managing Editor, Jill leads the Law Report Group products, which include the Private Equity Law Report, Hedge Fund Law Report, Cybersecurity Law Report and Anti-Corruption Report.
Jill was previously an editor at Thomson Reuters and spent the majority of her legal career as a litigator at Dentons, where she gained significant experience in both state and federal courts on a wide array of matters, including intellectual property and contracts. She was also Of Counsel at The Lustigman Firm where her practice focused on advertising law, including regulatory work and litigating false advertising and unfair competition claims.
Jill graduated summa cum laude from Touro Law School, where she was a Law Review editor, and has a B.S. in public relations from The University of Florida.
For editorial questions or suggestions, you can reach Jill at jill.abitbol@iongroup.com.
Rorie A. Norton
Rorie is the Editor-in-Chief of the Private Equity Law Report who uses his legal background and experience in the private funds industry to help private fund managers mitigate their operational risks and navigate an evolving compliance landscape. He began his legal career as an associate at Ropes & Gray representing PE funds, both on the debt financing and equity sides, in portfolio company acquisitions. Prior to joining the PELR, Rorie was an associate attorney at Kleinberg, Kaplan, Wolff & Cohen where he advised private fund managers on structuring, launching, offering and administering fund vehicles.
Rorie received his bachelor’s degree with a double major in political science and international studies from the University of Richmond, and his J.D. from the Fordham University School of Law. He graduated magna cum laude from both institutions.
Rorie can be reached here: rorie.norton@iongroup.com.
Robin L. Barton
As Editor, Robin covers private funds law, as well as related governance, compliance and risk issues. She writes articles of various types based on research and extensive interviews of industry experts, such as law and accounting firm partners; private fund manager leaders, including GCs, CCOs, COOs, CFOs and others; prime broker and administrator executives; and institutional investor decision-makers.
Robin has more than 15 years of editorial and reporting experience, writing about compliance issues in a variety of industries and legal contexts. She also worked for eight years as an Assistant District Attorney in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.
Robin has a law degree from New York University School of Law, where she served as a teaching assistant for a legal research and writing course, and graduated from Purdue University with a BA in political science and a minor in English.
Robin can be reached here: robin.barton@iongroup.com.
Michael Washburn
Michael Washburn is a senior reporter for the Private Equity Law Report. He writes about regulatory issues, rulemaking and enforcement actions, providing practical takeaways for compliance professionals to help them tailor and maintain robust, up-to-date compliance programs. Prior to joining the Law Report Group, Michael was a senior reporter at The American Lawyer and The Epoch Times; Americas Editor for Euromoney’s IFLR1000; and a managing editor for a cryptocurrency news website. He is also the editor of The Torch, the quarterly publication of the International Association of Torch Clubs.
Michael studied history, literature, philosophy and languages at Grinnell College and the University of Wisconsin. His writing has appeared in the National Review; Brooklyn Rail; Book and Film Globe; the Media Globe; the Irish Echo; PopMatters; and dozens of other publications in the U.S. and abroad.
Michael can be reached here: michael.washburn@iongroup.com.
Hena Lees
Hena has been a reporter for the Private Equity Law Report since its inception in 2019, primarily covering expert panels, industry reports, regulatory enforcement actions and proposed regulations on legal and regulatory developments relevant to private funds.
Hena has an LLB/BA (Psychology) from the University of Auckland, New Zealand; is qualified as a barrister and solicitor in New Zealand; and is a solicitor of the Supreme Court for England and Wales. Hena has more than two decades’ experience in banking, insurance and commercial litigation in international law firms and boutique law firms in Auckland, London and New York.
Vincent D. Pitaro
Vincent has been a Legal Analyst for the Law Report Group since early 2009. He covers legal and regulatory developments, compliance issues, enforcement proceedings and private litigation.
Vincent attended Georgetown University, where he majored in economics, and Harvard Law School. After law school, he gained experience in venture capital, private equity, mergers and acquisitions, secured lending and trade regulation at the firm of Reboul, MacMurray, Hewitt, Maynard & Kristol, which later merged with Ropes & Gray. He also has significant independent private practice experience, concentrating in the areas of real estate; general business counseling; estate planning; and trust and estate administration.
Vincent can be reached here: vincent.pitaro@ionigroup.com.
Emily Zampardi
As Content Manager of the Law Report Group, Emily copy edits and proofreads all content in the Private Equity Law Report, the Cybersecurity Law Report, the Anti-Corruption Report and the Hedge Fund Law Report.
Emily has a background in publishing and marketing as well as experience editing a variety of legal content. Prior to joining the Law Report Group, she managed several publications for a state REALTORS® association. She has also previously worked as a marketing director and paralegal.
