“I wish I had known that no one has all the answers. It’s okay to say ‘I don’t know’ as long as you’re committed to finding the answer. In fact, it builds credibility.”
Sarah Stanton’s path in specialty finance demonstrates the impact of adaptability, strategic vision and technical versatility. She began her legal career in commercial litigation before moving into corporate and finance law at an international firm, eventually transitioning in-house with a client preparing to go public. That combination of venture experience and public company preparation paved the way for a defining moment in her career: joining Trinity Capital as general counsel in 2020.
Joining Trinity six months before its public market debut, Stanton applied her specialized knowledge to help guide the organization through a transformative era. In 2019, Trinity had consolidated a series of private funds into a single internally managed BDC — a structural feat unprecedented by SEC standards. The strategic move secured $250 million in equity and debt through private placements, establishing critical liquidity ahead of the pandemic and positioning Trinity to list publicly when the IPO window opened in early 2021. Operating as a publicly traded evergreen vehicle provided the structural foundation necessary to scale the business.
Since then, Stanton’s influence has extended beyond legal compliance into broader growth strategy. She has played a pivotal role in expanding Trinity’s specialty finance platform from two lending verticals to five, adding healthcare and life sciences, sponsor finance and asset-based lending. Her strategic leadership has also contributed to the launch of Trinity’s private funds platform, the execution of three strategic joint ventures and the raising of more than $1 billion in capital. Stanton views legal expertise as a creative tool for structuring ambitious, high-impact growth initiatives.
