[Skip to main content](/content/podcasts/matt-schwartz#main/index.html) Your web browser is out of date. Update your browser for more security, speed and the best experience on this site. [Update your browser](http://outdatedbrowser.com/) Click for sound Posted Jun 9, 2026 # The Legal Catbird Seat: How Data and AI Are Reshaping Private Credit and Fund Finance [Contact us](/content/learn-more/index.html) - [Find us on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/juniper-square) - [Find us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/junipersquare/) - [Find us on Twitter](https://twitter.com/juniper_square) - [Find us on Youtube](https://www.youtube.com/@JuniperSquare) Brandon Sedloff and Matt Schwartz explore the evolution of fund finance and private credit on The Distribution. Matt, Global Head of the Finance Practice at DLA Piper, shares insights from his two decades in legal finance, including his journey from representing venture debt transactions to overseeing one of the world's largest law firm finance practices. The conversation examines how the financing landscape has fundamentally shifted over the past decade, with private credit funds taking on more complex transactions while banks have moved into back-leverage arrangements. Matt emphasizes the critical role of data strategy and AI adoption in modern fund operations, noting how GPS are using technology to improve underwriting and portfolio management. They discuss: - Why traditional underwriting standards are returning and how data analytics are improving investment decisions - How banks and private credit funds are increasingly collaborating rather than competing on deals - The role of insurance capital and hybrid structures in expanding fund finance options - Whether retail investors can successfully participate in illiquid private credit markets as valuation tools improve - Why technology and life sciences remain strong despite headlines suggesting otherwise Megaphone Embeddable Player The Distribution by Juniper Square The Legal Catbird Seat: How Data and AI Are Reshaping Private Credit and Fund Finance - Matt Schwartz - Global Finance Group Leader & Co-Head of Private Credit - DLA Piper 00:00:00 Forward 15 seconds Back 15 seconds 00:00:00 [Save to Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/5ysEwoATUSEiol96NZgR8L?intent=1 "Save to Spotify") Subscribe Description ## Share The Distribution by Juniper Square Share this episode with your friends [Share via Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?quote=%27The+Legal+Catbird+Seat%3A+How+Data+and+AI+Are+Reshaping+Private+Credit+and+Fund+Finance+-+Matt+Schwartz+-+Global+Finance+Group+Leader+%26+Co-Head+of+Private+Credit+-+DLA+Piper+%27+by+The+Distribution+by+Juniper+Square&u=https%3A%2F%2Fmegaphone.link%2FDTSOS8761379759 "Share via Facebook")[Share via Twitter](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=%27The+Legal+Catbird+Seat%3A+How+Data+and+AI+Are+Reshaping+Private+Credit+and+Fund+Finance+-+Matt+Schwartz+-+Global+Finance+Group+Leader+%26+Co-Head+of+Private+Credit+-+DLA+Piper+%27+by+The+Distribution+by+Juniper+Square&url=https%3A%2F%2Fmegaphone.link%2FDTSOS8761379759 "Share via Twitter") [Download episode](https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/traffic.megaphone.fm/DTSOS8761379759.mp3?source=player) ## Subscribe to The Distribution by Juniper Square Keep up to date by subscribing to this podcast [](https://feeds.megaphone.fm/the-distribution "Subscribe via RSS") [Subscribe via Apple Podcasts](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/id1677652734 "Subscribe via Apple Podcasts") [Subscribe via Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/5ysEwoATUSEiol96NZgR8L "Subscribe via Spotify") [Subscribe via iHeart](https://www.iheart.com/podcast/268261652 "Subscribe via iHeart") ## Description Brandon Sedloff and Matt Schwartz explore the evolution of fund finance and private credit on The Distribution. Matt shares insights from his two decades in legal finance, including his journey from representing venture debt transactions to overseeing one of the world's largest law firm finance practices. The conversation examines how the financing landscape has fundamentally shifted over the past decade, with private credit funds taking on more complex transactions while banks have moved into back-leverage arrangements. Matt emphasizes the critical role of data strategy and AI adoption in modern fund operations, noting how GPs are using technology to improve underwriting and portfolio management. They discuss: \- Why traditional underwriting standards are returning and how data analytics are improving investment decisions \- How banks and private credit funds are increasingly collaborating rather than competing on deals \- The role of insurance capital and hybrid structures in expanding fund finance options \- Whether retail investors can successfully participate in illiquid private credit markets as valuation tools improve \- Why technology and life sciences remain strong despite headlines suggesting otherwise This episode offers fund managers and private market professionals a clear-eyed view of where capital is flowing and how operational improvements can create competitive advantages. Topics: (00:00:00) - Intro (00:00:53) - Welcome and guest introduction (00:03:17) - Matt's journey into law (00:07:15) - Landing in San Diego and building a practice (00:10:00) - Leading DLA Piper's finance practice (00:16:40) - Data and operational alpha for GPs (00:25:00) - AI adoption and compliance (00:27:40) - Fund finance and private credit landscape (00:38:30) - AI's impact on vertical SaaS companies (00:41:36) - Underwriting discipline and data usage (00:47:30) - The next cycle in private credit (00:51:00) - Retail capital and LP allocation shifts (00:54:00) - Closing Links: Matt on LinkedIn - [https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-schwartz-15576617/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-schwartz-15576617/) DLA Piper -  [https://www.dlapiper.com/en/](https://www.dlapiper.com/en/) Juniper Square - [https://www.junipersquare.com/](/content/site-root.html) Brandon on LinkedIn - [https://www.linkedin.com/in/bsedloff/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/bsedloff/) Posted Jun 9, 2026 # The Legal Catbird Seat: How Data and AI Are Reshaping Private Credit and Fund Finance [Contact us](/content/learn-more/index.html) They discuss: Megaphone Embeddable Player The Distribution by Juniper Square 00:00:00 Forward 15 seconds Back 15 seconds 00:00:00 [Save to Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/5ysEwoATUSEiol96NZgR8L?intent=1 "Save to Spotify") Subscribe Description ## Share The Distribution by Juniper Square Share this episode with your friends [Download episode](https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/traffic.megaphone.fm/DTSOS8761379759.mp3?source=player) ## Subscribe to The Distribution by Juniper Square Keep up to date by subscribing to this podcast ## Description They discuss: \- Why traditional underwriting standards are returning and how data analytics are improving investment decisions \- How banks and private credit funds are increasingly collaborating rather than competing on deals \- The role of insurance capital and hybrid structures in expanding fund finance options \- Whether retail investors can successfully participate in illiquid private credit markets as valuation tools improve \- Why technology and life sciences remain strong despite headlines suggesting otherwise Topics: (00:00:00) - Intro (00:00:53) - Welcome and guest introduction (00:03:17) - Matt's journey into law (00:07:15) - Landing in San Diego and building a practice (00:10:00) - Leading DLA Piper's finance practice (00:16:40) - Data and operational alpha for GPs (00:25:00) - AI adoption and compliance (00:27:40) - Fund finance and private credit landscape (00:38:30) - AI's impact on vertical SaaS companies (00:41:36) - Underwriting discipline and data usage (00:47:30) - The next cycle in private credit (00:51:00) - Retail capital and LP allocation shifts (00:54:00) - Closing Links: Matt on LinkedIn - [https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-schwartz-15576617/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-schwartz-15576617/) DLA Piper -  [https://www.dlapiper.com/en/](https://www.dlapiper.com/en/) Juniper Square - [https://www.junipersquare.com/](/content/site-root.html) Brandon on LinkedIn - [https://www.linkedin.com/in/bsedloff/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/bsedloff/)