I’m Stephanie Pries

I've closed more than 1,000 deals over nearly three decades in investment law, including 18 years at Notre Dame's endowment as it grew from $5B to $22B. I know exactly where legal adds value and where it just gets in the way.

I grew up on the Bronx Community College campus, where my mother was dean. My husband teaches economics at Notre Dame, and our sons rowed varsity at Princeton. I’ve watched education change lives—not just for students, but for whole families. That’s what endowments make possible—for universities, hospitals, and foundations alike.

But most institutions don’t have the legal support they need.

Big Law is too expensive and too slow. General counsel is stretched too thin. Investment staff end up doing legal work and carrying risk they never signed up for.

So I built Endowment Legal Services (ELS) for $500M to $10B investment offices that need specialized counsel but can’t justify a full-time investment lawyer. I work with CIOs and investment teams at public universities, healthcare systems, private colleges, foundations, and faith-based institutions nationwide.

They get counsel who already knows the difference between a GP clawback and an LP giveback, and can spot the three paragraphs in a 200-page LPA that actually affect returns.

My flat-fee structure means you don’t hesitate to call. No surprise invoices. No waiting.

When you’re closing a deal on Monday morning, legal shouldn’t be what delays it.