Firm profile

Knighthead Capital Management, LLC

NEW YORK, NYCRD 157483Registration Status: ApprovedEffective since February 27, 2012SEC # 801-73337Latest ADV May 7, 2026

Knighthead Capital Management, LLC is an SEC registered investment adviser organized as a limited liability company with a primary office location in New York, NY. Its latest Form ADV filing, dated May 7, 2026, reports $19.0B in regulatory assets under management, 58 employees, 3 offices, and 50 accounts.

Assets Under Management
$19.0B
Employees
58
Offices
3 offices
Total Clients
50

Associated firm names

8 names listed
  • KNIGHTHEAD CAPITAL MANAGEMENT SMA, LLC (RELYING ADVISOR)
  • KNIGHTHEAD SSREF GP, LLCRelying adviser
  • KNIGHTHEAD REALTY CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLCRelying adviser
  • KNIGHTHEAD OPPORTUNITIES CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC (RELYING ADVISOR)

Leadership

2 roles identified
CCOLaura L. Torrado
CFOMichael L. Friedberg

Advisory services offered

2 types reported
Portfolio management for businesses
Portfolio management for pooled investment vehicles

Fee models offered

3 types reported
Asset based fees
Other fee arrangements
Performance-based fees

Offices & Contact

Primary office

NEW YORK, New York, United States

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Primary office regionOther reported regions

Shading shows states and countries with reported offices. Cities are listed below; shading does not indicate service coverage.

New York

NEW YORKPrimary office

Connecticut

GREENWICH

Florida

WEST PALM BEACH

3 office records listed · 3 total offices reported. Counts can use different reporting dates. SEC filers may list only their largest 25 additional offices.

Contact and digital presence

ADV profile links

Regulatory Assets Under Management Breakdown

Total regulatory assets under management$19.0Bas of May 7, 2026
Discretionary99.5%
$18.9B
100% of total RAUM99.5%
Non-discretionary0.5%
$95M
0% of total RAUM0.5%
Regulatory assets under management are split between discretionary and non-discretionary assets.

Client Coverage Demographics

Top client segmentPooled Investment Vehicles represent 60.0% of total clients.
Top client categories% of clientsClients
1
Pooled Investment Vehicles
60.0%
30
2
Insurance Cos.
22.0%
11
3
MANAGED ACCOUNT
18.0%
9

Assets under management Growth by Quarter

Quarterly points use the latest ADV filing or SEC roster snapshot available in each quarter.

Total AUM$19.0B
Total Accounts50
10Y AUM Change+$15.5B (+447.1%)

Private Funds

Private funds reported by Knighthead Capital Management, LLC

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Employee Growth by Quarter

Quarterly points use the latest ADV filing or SEC roster snapshot available in each quarter.

Total Employees58
Clients per Employee1:1
10Y Employee Change+33 (+132.0%)

Historical AUM and employee figures reflect available SEC Form ADV filings under this CRD. Filing gaps may reflect registration status changes, dormant periods, state registration periods, firm restructuring, or other reporting changes. Rialytix does not interpolate missing periods.


Ownership

Reported direct and indirect ownership ranges

Each range applies to a separate reported relationship and should not be added together.

Reported ownership ranges

Highlighted bands show the percentage range reported in Form ADV.

0%25%50%75%100%
THOMAS ALLEN WAGNERDirect owner · Schedule AInterest in KNIGHTHEAD CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC
25% to < 50%
ARA DAVID COHENDirect owner · Schedule AInterest in KNIGHTHEAD CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC
10% to < 25%
ANDREW DAVID SHANNAHANDirect owner · Schedule AInterest in KNIGHTHEAD CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC
10% to < 25%
PHP DE 1 LPDirect owner · Schedule AInterest in KNIGHTHEAD CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC
10% to < 25%
ARA COHEN FAMILY LLCDirect owner · Schedule AInterest in KNIGHTHEAD CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC
5% to < 10%
ADAM ROSS ZIRKINDirect owner · Schedule AInterest in KNIGHTHEAD CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC
5% to < 10%
PETERSHILL PARTNERS LIMITEDIndirect owner · Schedule BInterest in G-PETERSHILL LP
75%+
PETERSHILL PARTNERS, INC.Indirect owner · Schedule BInterest in PHP DE 1 LP
75%+
G-PETERSHILL LPIndirect owner · Schedule BInterest in PETERSHILL PARTNERS, INC.
75%+
ARA COHEN 2005 FAMILY TRUSTIndirect owner · Schedule BInterest in ARA COHEN FAMILY LLC
50% to < 75%
ARA DAVID COHENIndirect owner · Schedule BInterest in ARA COHEN FAMILY LLC
25% to < 50%
PH PE IM AGGREGATOR LPIndirect owner · Schedule BInterest in PETERSHILL PARTNERS LIMITED
25% to < 50%

Bars represent the reported range at that individual ownership step, not an estimated percentage of the advisory firm. Indirect relationships may refer to intermediate entities rather than directly to Knighthead Capital Management, LLC.

Reported ownership and control details

Form ADV · Filing date 2026-05-07 · Schedules A and B

15 entries
#Owner / person & roleInterest in entityReported interestControl personTitle / status acquiredSource
1THOMAS ALLEN WAGNERMANAGING MEMBERIndividualKNIGHTHEAD CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC25% to less than 50%Code CYesMANAGING MEMBER05/2008Schedule APDF page 117
2ARA DAVID COHENMANAGING MEMBERIndividualKNIGHTHEAD CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC10% to less than 25%Code BYesMANAGING MEMBER05/2008Schedule APDF page 117
3ARA COHEN FAMILY LLCMEMBERDomestic entityKNIGHTHEAD CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC5% to less than 10%Code ANoMEMBER05/2009Schedule APDF page 117
4LAURA LYNN TORRADOGENERAL COUNSEL/CHIEF COMPLIANCE OFFICERIndividualKNIGHTHEAD CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLCLess than 5%Code NAYesGENERAL COUNSEL/CHIEF COMPLIANCE OFFICER06/2008Schedule APDF page 117
5MICHAEL LAWRENCE FRIEDBERGCHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICERIndividualKNIGHTHEAD CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLCLess than 5%Code NAYesCHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER01/2013Schedule APDF page 117
6ANDREW DAVID SHANNAHANMANAGING MEMBERIndividualKNIGHTHEAD CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC10% to less than 25%Code BYesMANAGING MEMBER01/2025Schedule APDF page 117
7PHP DE 1 LPMEMBERDomestic entityKNIGHTHEAD CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC10% to less than 25%Code BNoMEMBER01/2024Schedule APDF page 117
8ADAM ROSS ZIRKINMANAGING MEMBERIndividualKNIGHTHEAD CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC5% to less than 10%Code AYesMANAGING MEMBER01/2025Schedule APDF page 117
9ARA DAVID COHENMEMBERIndividualARA COHEN FAMILY LLC25% to less than 50%Code CYesMEMBER06/2005Schedule BPDF page 117
10ARA COHEN 2005 FAMILY TRUSTOWNERDomestic entityARA COHEN FAMILY LLC50% to less than 75%Code DYesOWNER06/2005Schedule BPDF page 117
11NICOLE L COHENTRUSTEEIndividualARA COHEN 2005 FAMILY TRUSTPercentage not specifiedCode FYesTRUSTEE12/2018Schedule BPDF page 117
12PETERSHILL PARTNERS LIMITEDPARTNERForeign entityG-PETERSHILL LP75% or moreCode EYesPARTNER12/2025Schedule BPDF page 117
13PETERSHILL PARTNERS, INC.PARTNERDomestic entityPHP DE 1 LP75% or moreCode EYesPARTNER01/2024Schedule BPDF page 117
14G-PETERSHILL LPSHAREHOLDERForeign entityPETERSHILL PARTNERS, INC.75% or moreCode EYesSHAREHOLDER12/2025Schedule BPDF page 117
15PH PE IM AGGREGATOR LPPARTNERForeign entityPETERSHILL PARTNERS LIMITED25% to less than 50%Code CNoPARTNER06/2024Schedule BPDF page 117

Less than 5% may include zero. Code F identifies a role without specifying a percentage. Reported interests may overlap and may not include every owner. Total indirect ownership is not calculated.

Compliance & Disclosures

Filing dated 5/7/2026 1:55:51 PM

Responses were selected by the RIA in its filing. Questions are shortened for readability; “you” refers to the reporting firm, and some questions also cover advisory affiliates.

RIA or supervised-person involvementThe RIA reported that none of the events below involve the firm or its supervised persons.RIA responseNo
AFelonies2 No

In the past ten years, have you or any advisory affiliate:

  • A1Been convicted of or pleaded guilty or no contest to a felony?No
  • A2Been charged with a felony?No
BMisdemeanors2 No

In the past ten years, have you or any advisory affiliate:

  • B1Been convicted of or pleaded guilty or no contest to a misdemeanor involving investments, an investment-related business, fraud, false statements or omissions, wrongful taking of property, bribery, perjury, forgery, counterfeiting, or extortion?No
  • B2Been charged with a misdemeanor of the kind listed above?No
CSEC or CFTC actions5 No

Has the SEC or CFTC ever:

  • C1Found you or an advisory affiliate made a false statement or omission?No
  • C2Found you or an advisory affiliate violated SEC or CFTC regulations or statutes?No
  • C3Found you or an advisory affiliate caused an investment-related business to have its authorization to do business denied, suspended, revoked, or restricted?No
  • C4Entered an order against you or an advisory affiliate in connection with investment-related activity?No
  • C5Imposed a civil money penalty on you or an advisory affiliate, or ordered you or an advisory affiliate to cease and desist from any activity?No
DOther regulatory actions5 No

Has any other federal regulatory agency, state regulatory agency, or foreign financial regulatory authority ever:

  • D1Found you or an advisory affiliate made a false statement or omission, or was dishonest, unfair, or unethical?No
  • D2Found you or an advisory affiliate violated investment-related regulations or statutes?No
  • D3Found you or an advisory affiliate caused an investment-related business to have its authorization to do business denied, suspended, revoked, or restricted?No
  • D4In the past ten years, entered an order against you or an advisory affiliate in connection with investment-related activity?No
  • D5Denied, suspended, or revoked your or an advisory affiliate’s registration or license, or otherwise prevented association with an investment-related business or restricted activities?No
ESelf-regulatory organization actions4 No

Has a self-regulatory organization or commodities exchange ever:

  • E1Found you or an advisory affiliate made a false statement or omission?No
  • E2Found you or an advisory affiliate violated its rules, other than a violation designated as a minor rule violation under an SEC-approved plan?No
  • E3Found you or an advisory affiliate caused an investment-related business to have its authorization to do business denied, suspended, revoked, or restricted?No
  • E4Disciplined you or an advisory affiliate by expulsion, suspension, barring association with other members, or otherwise restricting activities?No
FProfessional authorizations1 No
  • FHas an authorization to act as an attorney, accountant, or federal contractor granted to you or an advisory affiliate ever been revoked or suspended?No
GPending regulatory proceedings1 No
  • GAre you or any advisory affiliate now the subject of a regulatory proceeding that could result in a “Yes” answer to any part of C, D, or E?No
HCivil judicial actions and proceedings4 No

(1) Court actions

Has a domestic or foreign court:

  • H(1)(a)In the past ten years, enjoined you or an advisory affiliate in connection with investment-related activity?No
  • H(1)(b)Found that you or an advisory affiliate violated investment-related statutes or regulations?No
  • H(1)(c)Dismissed, pursuant to a settlement agreement, an investment-related civil action brought against you or an advisory affiliate by a state or foreign financial regulatory authority?No

(2) Pending civil proceedings

  • H(2)Are you or any advisory affiliate now the subject of a civil proceeding that could result in a “Yes” answer to any part of H(1)?No

* Metrics are based on the latest available data, including Form ADV filings, brochures, and relationship summaries pulled from the SEC IAPD, and may be subject to change. Learn what is included in the Rialytix data. Please refer to the firm's official disclosures for the most accurate information using their CRD number. This is not investment advice.