About - Breakwall Capital

Company Overview

Breakwall Capital is an energy specialist facilitating the growth of conventional, renewable and “next generation” energy companies through the deployment of innovative, much needed capital solutions. As an independent asset manager and employee-owned firm, Breakwall seeks to fill the gap that other financing providers have been reluctant to service.

Breakwall is led by the co-founders of Riverstone Credit Partners LLC (“RCP”), Christopher Abbate, Jamie Brodsky and Daniel Flannery. Since 2014, the Breakwall team has built a credit investment franchise that focuses on direct lending to middle-market and developing energy companies. The team saw this as an underserved market in 2014, which remains true today. Since inception, the team has raised ~$4.9 billion in capital, with ~$7.0 billion in investment activity deployed across 70+ transactions.

Breakwall operates out of three offices in New York, Texas and Rhode Island.

Team Bios

The Breakwall team has been working together and making an impact across numerous facets of the energy industry for nearly two decades.

Christopher A. Abbate

Managing Partner and Co-CEO

Mr. Abbate is a Managing Partner and Co-CEO of Breakwall Capital. He is based in Newport, Rhode Island and New York.

Previously, Mr. Abbate was a Partner at Riverstone Holdings LLC, as well as a Founder and Co-Head of Riverstone Credit Partners, focused on the firm’s credit and capital markets activities.

Prior to joining Riverstone in 2014, Mr. Abbate was a Managing Director and Head of Energy Leveraged Finance at Citigroup. Prior to Citigroup, Mr. Abbate was the Head of U.S. Leveraged Finance Origination at UBS Investment Bank. Mr. Abbate joined UBS in 2000 as an Associate Director in the Energy group, where he worked covering upstream and midstream oil and gas companies. He started his investment banking career in 1997 at PaineWebber as an Associate in the Energy group. Prior to his career on Wall Street, Mr. Abbate served as an Intelligence Applications Officer in the U.S. Air Force for five years.

Mr. Abbate graduated with a B.A. from Duke University and has an MBA from the University of Maryland. In addition to various corporate boards, Mr. Abbate is Chairman of the Board of the Portsmouth Abbey School.

Neel Ahuja

Managing Director

Mr. Ahuja is a Vice President at Breakwall Capital. He is responsible for transaction sourcing and execution, as well as monitoring active investments. He is based in Houston.

Previously, Mr. Ahuja was involved in the formation of Magnolia Oil & Gas Corporation, an independent oil and natural gas company, where he focused his efforts on acquisitions and corporate strategy.

Prior to joining Magnolia in 2018, Mr. Ahuja was an Analyst in the Natural Resources Group at Morgan Stanley.

Mr. Ahuja graduated from Rice University, where he earned degrees in economics and sport management.

Jamie M. Brodsky

Managing Partner and Co-CEO

Mr. Brodsky is a Managing Partner and Co-CEO of Breakwall Capital. He is based in New York.

Previously, Mr. Brodsky was a Partner at Riverstone Holdings LLC, as well as a Founder and Co-Head of Riverstone Credit, focused on the firm’s credit and capital markets activities.

Prior to joining Riverstone in 2014, Mr. Brodsky was a Managing Director and Head of Energy Leveraged Finance at Nomura Securities International. Prior to Nomura, Mr. Brodsky was an Executive Director at UBS Investment Bank in Leveraged Finance Origination, a group in which he was a founding member. Mr. Brodsky began his career as an Analyst at UBS in 2000, working both in New York and London, where he primarily served as a natural resource-focused leveraged finance professional.

Mr. Brodsky holds a B.A. from Duke University and an MBA from Columbia and London Business Schools through the EMBA-Global program. In addition to various corporate boards, Mr. Brodsky is a Board Member of the Army Ranger Lead the Way Fund and Beat the Streets NYC.

Eliot Cotton

Senior Advisor

Mr. Cotton is a Senior Advisor to Breakwall Capital. He is also a Professor of Law and Director of the Texas Law and Business Program at The University of Texas School of Law, where he focuses on transactional law, private equity, venture capital, fund formation, corporate governance, and negotiation strategy. He is based in Austin, Texas.

Previously, Mr. Cotton served as Managing Director and Co-General Counsel at Riverstone Holdings and lead counsel for Riverstone Credit Partners, where he advised on private equity, private credit, energy transition, infrastructure, and renewable energy investments across the firm’s investment platforms. Prior to joining Riverstone in 2017, Mr. Cotton practiced at Vinson & Elkins LLP in New York, focusing on mergers and acquisitions, private equity, venture capital, and capital markets transactions.

Mr. Cotton graduated from The University of Texas at Austin, where he earned both his B.A. and J.D. degrees.

Natasha Harris

ESG Policy & Compliance Manager

Ms. Harris is the ESG Policy & Compliance Manager at Breakwall Capital. She is responsible for the firm’s compliance program and leads the development and implementation of ESG and Responsible Investment policies, including alignment with UN Principles for Responsible Investment. She is based in Newport.

Previously, Ms. Harris worked with ultra-high-net-worth individuals across private estates and the superyacht industry, where she directed operations, led cross-functional teams, and oversaw complex, high-value projects.

Daniel P. Flannery

Managing Partner and President

Mr. Flannery is a Managing Partner and President of Breakwall Capital. He is based in New York.

Previously, Mr. Flannery was a Managing Director at Riverstone Holdings LLC, as well as a Founder of Riverstone Credit Partners, focused on the firm’s credit and capital markets activities.

Prior to joining Riverstone in 2014, Mr. Flannery worked at Nomura as a Vice President in the Leveraged Finance group, and prior to that as an Associate at First Reserve from 2009 to 2011 and UBS from 2007 to 2009.

Mr. Flannery graduated with an B.A. from Duke University. In 2021, Mr. Flannery was chosen as one of Hart Energy’s Top 40 Under 40 Professionals in the Energy Industry.

Walt Hughes

Managing Director

Mr. Hughes is a Managing Director at Breakwall Capital and head of its Houston office. He is responsible for transaction sourcing and execution, as well as monitoring active investments.

Mr. Hughes has over a decade of experience in the energy industry, having executed and managed investments across the entire energy value chain. Previously, he was a Principal at Riverstone Holdings LLC, focused on the firm’s credit and capital markets activities. Prior to joining Riverstone in 2018, Mr. Hughes was a Vice President in the Natural Resources Group at Morgan Stanley and an Analyst in the Natural Resources Group at Nomura.

Mr. Hughes graduated from Texas Christian University, where he earned a B.B.A. in finance and accounting.

Pierce Latham

Vice President

Mr. Latham is a Vice President at Breakwall Capital. He is responsible for transaction sourcing and execution, as well as monitoring active investments. He is based in Houston.

Previously, Mr. Latham was a Vice President at Freestone, a portfolio company of Tailwater Capital focused on investing across disruptive infrastructure, manufacturing, support services, and technologies enabling the energy transition. Prior to joining Freestone in 2021, Mr. Latham was an Associate at Morgan Stanley in the Natural Resources Group and an Analyst at RBC Capital Markets in the Power and Utilities Group.

Mr. Latham graduated from Baylor University, where he earned a B.B.A. in finance and accounting.

Carmela Owsiany

Senior Associate, Investor Relations Coordinator

Ms. Owsiany is a Senior Associate and Investor Relations Coordinator at Breakwall Capital. She is based in New York.

Previously, Ms. Owsiany was an Associate at Riverstone Holdings LLC, where she supported both the Investor Relations function across the firm and provided administrative support for the team’s credit and capital markets efforts, ensuring efficient team, partner and office operations.

Prior to joining Riverstone in 2014, Ms. Owsiany worked at Publishers Clearing House, most recently serving as a Junior Account Manager, and previously served as an Event Coordinator for Company 20, Inc and a Social Media Strategy Consultant at Beautiful Social.

Ms. Owsiany graduated from St Joseph’s University, where she earned a B.S. in business administration, with a focus in marketing and communications.

Asma Rahman

Executive Assistant

Ms. Rahman is an Executive Assistant at Breakwall Capital. She is responsible for managing daily administrative operations, providing high-level support to senior executives, and contributing to firmwide coordination and organizational effectiveness. She is based in the New York office.

Previously, Ms. Rahman served as an Executive Assistant at Namdar Realty Group, where she also held roles as a Personal Assistant and HR Assistant. In this capacity, she supported C-suite executives, managed office-wide administrative functions, and handled personal and family matters for company leadership.

Ms. Rahman holds a Bachelor’s degree in Graphics and Multimedia Design from University of Sharjah in the UAE. After relocating to New York, she transitioned into the corporate sector while continuing to pursue her creative interests as a freelance designer.

As of February 24, 2026 Reflects investment activities from accounts managed at Breakwall and RCP.