Douglas P. Dick
Partner | Washington, D.C.
Douglas P. Dick

Douglas P. Dick, a member of the firm’s Policy Committee and former managing partner of the Washington, D.C. office, has over 25 years of experience in the asset management industry, advising open- and closed-end investment companies, exchange-traded funds, money market funds, offshore funds, private investment funds, independent trustees, investment advisers and fund distributors. He counsels clients in a wide range of regulatory, corporate, compliance and business matters.

A member of the Editorial Board of The Investment Lawyer, Mr. Dick has authored numerous publications and articles in the asset management field. He has spoken on a number of industry group panels and at educational events. Mr. Dick also spent seven years working out of Dechert’s first California office, helping to establish the firm’s west coast presence.

Mr. Dick has been recognized as a leading lawyer for registered funds by Chambers USA, which has noted that “He is extremely knowledgeable and provides the highest level of service.” A past edition stated that “He is business-friendly and very knowledgeable in a breadth of areas. If people have questions he offers a very responsive and thorough answer.” He has also been recognized in IFLR1000 for investment funds and The Legal 500 (U.S.) in the area of mutual/registered/exchange-traded funds, a recent edition stating that he “exemplifies the practice’s commitment to regulatory, transactional and litigious work in the registered funds space.”

  • Advising funds and their boards on the legal issues relating to advisory and Rule 12b-1 fees and distribution arrangements. He also advises on fund governance, conflicts and general fiduciary duty issues, and director and officer liability insurance issues.
  • Advising funds, their boards and advisers on matters related to trading practices, affiliated transaction issues, asset custody, proxy voting policies and issues, SEC no-action and exemptive relief, closed-end fund discount and activist issues, and negotiation of contracts.
  • Representing funds, their boards and advisers in corporate acquisitions and transactional matters, fund and adviser reorganizations and change of control matters, and fund adoption transactions. 
  • Counseling funds, their boards, and advisers and distributors on corporate matters, regulatory compliance, inspections and enforcement, litigation and arbitration matters.
  • Enterprise Risk Oversight: This Year’s News and the Related Risks — Independent Directors Council’s 2018 Fund Directors Forum, Washington D.C. (October 16, 2018)
  • Board Oversight of Investment Risk — Mutual Fund Directors Forum Policy Conference, Washington, D.C. (April 20-21, 2017)
  • Registered Funds Track — 2016 San Francisco Investment Management Symposium, San Francisco, CA (November 9, 2016)
  • 2016 Independent Counsel Roundtable — Presented by the Independent Directors Council, Washington, D.C. (July 20, 2016)
  • Systemic Risk & Asset Management: How FSOC Designation, Greater Prudential Regulation and Risk Management Will Impact the Business & Its Regulators — 2015 San Francisco Investment Management Symposium, San Francisco, CA (December 9, 2015)
  • Product Council Roundtable — Mutual Funds Education Alliance, Chicago, IL (September 28, 2015)
  • The SEC on Board Self-Evaluations — 2015 Policy Conference presented by the Mutual Fund Directors Forum, Washington, D.C. (April 9, 2015)
  • Navigating the New Regulatory Structure Governing Money Market Funds — Dechert LLP, Webinar (April 8, 2010)
  • Fund-Linked Derivatives -Panel I — Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association's Hedge Funds & Alternative Investments Summit and Exposition, New York, NY (June 17, 2008)
  • Understanding the SEC’s Proposed Changes to Form ADV Part II — Dechert LLP, Webinar (April 29, 2008)
  • Regulatory Changes in the United States Hedge Fund Market - Recent Development and Capital Raising Opportunities for Hong Kong Hedge Fund Managers“ — The Alternative Investment Management Association (AIMA), Hong Kong (January 18, 2007)
  • Soft Dollars — IAA Compliance Workshops, Los Angeles, CA (November 16, 2006)
  • Strategies for Risk Assessment, Monitoring and Testing, and Creating a Compliance Calendar — 2005 IAA Compliance Workshops, Los Angeles, CA (November 15, 2005)
  • The New Hedge Fund Adviser Registration Requirements in the USA: What They Mean For Hong Kong Managers — AIMA Hong Kong Chapter Luncheon Talk, Hong Kong (January 13, 2005)
  • Recent Issues in Financial Services — Investment Company Institute's Mutual Funds Conference, Palm Desert, CA (April 1, 2003)
Services
    • American University, B.A., 1990, cum laude
    • Georgetown University Law Center, J.D., 1995, cum laude
    • District of Columbia
    • California
    • Maryland
    • Advisory Board, BoardIQ
    • Independent Counsel Roundtable Advisory Committee Member, Independent Directors Council (IDC)
    • Member of Editorial Board, The Investment Lawyer