Sonia Gardner
Sonia Gardner is the Co-Founder, President, and Managing Partner of Avenue Capital Group, a global investment manager specializing in distressed debt investing. With her extensive expertise in distressed debt and investment management, she has played a pivotal role in the success and growth of Avenue since its inception in 1995. Gardner is considered one of the most powerful women on Wall Street — a leader in finance and philanthropy. She is the Goodwill Ambassador for gender equality and access to finance for the United Nations Capital Development Fund. She focuses on advocating for ways to give women access to the economic resources they need to start and grow businesses as means of lifting their families out of poverty.
Sonia Gardner Professional Experience / Academic History
Professional Experience
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Co-Founder, Managing Partner, and President
Academic History
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J.D., Law
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B.A., Philosophy, With Honors
INDUSTRY IMPACT
As a highly respected businesswoman and philanthropist, Gardner has made significant contributions to the field of finance.
She is a pioneer in the field of alternative investments, one of the most successful women in asset management, and a leader of the international hedge fund industry for over three decades.
Gardner co-founded Avenue with her brother Marc Lasry in 1995 and has run it with him for nearly three decades.
She is in charge of managing the firm globally, and distressed debt investing has been the focus of her professional career over the last 35 years.
Avenue is primarily focused on specialty lending, opportunistic credit and other special situations investments across the United States, Europe, and Asia.
EARLY CAREER
Gardner began her career as senior attorney in the bankruptcy and corporate reorganization department of Cowen & Co.
Together with her brother Marc Lasry, they established themselves amongst the pioneers of distressed debt investing.
They soon forged out on their own to form Amroc Investments, which later became the largest privately owned distressed brokerage firm.
At Amroc, she was active in the review and trading of the debt of hundreds of bankruptcies.
RECOGNITIONS
2024 Forbes America's Self-Made Women
2022 Forbes 50 Under 50
2017 Financial Pioneer Award, Women's Entrepreneurship Day Organization
2013 25 Most Powerful Women on Wall Street, Business Insider
2011 Top 50 Women in Hedge Funds, The Hedge Fund Journal
2008 Industry Leadership Award, 100 Women in Finance
CURRENT AFFILIATIONS
Global Chair of the Board, 100 Women in Finance
Board of Trustees, Mount Sinai Medical Center
Client Advisory Board, Citi Private Bank
Goodwill Ambassador, United Nations Capital Development Fund