Mark serves as the General Counsel of ZAIS Group, LLC and a member of the firm’s executive leadership team. His experience focuses on providing advice on the establishment of hedge funds, private equity style funds, commodity pools, hybrid funds and separately managed accounts. Mark specializes in advising on corporate governance matters including strategic initiatives and disclosure matters.Mark has served as the General Counsel and corporate secretary to ZAIS Group Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZGH) where he specialized in providing public company guidance including advice related to the ‘33 and ’34 Act and M&A matters, including a go-public SPAC merger transaction. Additionally, Mark has provided IPO advice to a publicly traded mortgage REIT (NYSE:ZFC).During his tenure, Mark has significant experience advising on the issuance of securitized assets including CLOs and RMBS as well as the purchase of various structured credit instruments including RMBS, CMBS, CLOs and other ABS assets. Further, Mark has substantial experience with the purchase and sale of residential mortgage loans and real estate related assets. In his capacity as General Counsel, Mark guides the Company on all aspects of employment related HR matters including offer letters, severance agreement, employee benefit plans and compensation arrangements. Mark has experience providing legal guidance on solar asset transactions and other ESG related initiatives. Mark has advised the Company on cross border transactions including the establishment of international offices and providing advice related to complex international investment transactions. Finally, Mark is a frequent speaker at industry conferences on matters impacting the asset management industry including fund formations and fund structuring, regulatory matters, cybersecurity and issues impacting people and culture initiatives.

As an associate, Mr. Russo represented issuers and underwriters in connection with the offering of structured finance securities including residential and commercial mortgage backed securitizations, collateralized debt obligations and other asset financing structures.