After a Short Ride, Rubenstein Departs Brera –

Ernest Rubenstein has resigned as one of the four partners at Brera Capital Partners, LLC less than six months after it wrapped its $650 million debut fund.

Before helping Alberto Cribiore found Brera last year, Mr. Rubenstein was a senior partner at New York law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, leaving the firm because he had reached its mandatory retirement age.

“It’s a fascinating area of commercial activity, but it’s also a very demanding discipline,” he said of private equity, adding that he had expected private equity to be a second career before deciding to leave the field.

As a partner, Mr. Rubenstein said he would still consult with Brera on legal matters and would not charge the group for his services.

Meanwhile, Mr. Cribiore said Brera is looking to add a new partner in the coming year, but not necessarily to replace Mr. Rubenstein. This fall, the group named Lisa Hook as a fourth full partner after she had been an operating partner at the firm. Before joining Brera in May, Ms. Hook had been a managing director at venture capital firm Alpine Capital Group for a year, and at Time Warner where she focused on making strategic investments from 1989 to 1996.

Both Mr. Rubenstein and Mr. Cribiore declined comment on what stake Mr. Rubenstein will retain in the firm and Brera Capital Partners, L.P.