Rafael Stone co-chairs the firm’s Investment Management practice group and has advised more than 40 public pension funds across the United States in all aspects of public pension fund alternative investments.

Rafael's practice focuses on U.S. and international private equity, hedge funds, infrastructure, real estate, opportunistic funds and direct investments. Having practiced in the area since 1989, Rafael has successfully navigated through a significant number of workouts and overseen litigation involving disputes between our investor clients and the fund managers. He works with some of the country's most prominent institutional investors and has overseen more than 3,000 transactions in his career. 

Rafael has earned numerous accolades, including being named to Savoy Magazine's list of Most Influential Black Lawyers and ranked among The National Black Lawyers' Top 100. He is consistently recognized as a leading individual in Investment Funds: Investor Representation by both Chambers Global and Chambers USA. Rafael is a frequent speaker at alternative investment conferences across the country.

Rafael has been recognized for advancing opportunity and progress in the legal field, notably from the Joint Minority Mentorship Program, which named its annual scholar class the “Stone Scholars” in his honor. He also served on the board of directors, including as the chair, of The Seattle Times, the largest daily newspaper in the Pacific Northwest region.

Lead counsel and member-in-charge of:

• • 3M Employee Retirement Income Plan Trust
  • California Public Employees' Retirement System
  • Chicago Teachers’ Pension Fund
  • Educational Retirement Board of New Mexico
  • Employees' Retirement Fund of the City of Dallas
  • Employees Retirement System of Texas
  • Fresno County Employees' Retirement Association
  • Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund
  • Indiana Public Retirement System
  • Iowa Public Employees' Retirement System
  • Maryland State Retirement and Pension System
  • New Hampshire Retirement System
  • New Jersey Division of Investment
  • New York City Pension Funds and Retirement Systems
  • New York State Common Retirement Fund
  • New York State Teachers' Retirement System
  • Public Employee Retirement System of Idaho
  • Teacher Retirement System of Texas

Professional Activities

American Bar Association

King County Bar Association

National Association of Public Pension Attorneys

Pension Real Estate Association

Real Estate Executive Council, Leadership Advisory Board

Washington State Bar Association

Community Activities

• Africa Investor, Advisory Board
• African American Heritage Foundation
  • Member, 1992-Present
  • Chair, 1992-1996