William Bielefeld advises registered funds (including open-end funds and closed-end funds) and BDCs, their investment advisers and their boards of directors/trustees on a wide range of matters relating to the development and launch of new funds, fund reorganizations, acquisitions, mergers, regulatory and compliance matters relating to existing funds, fund governance issues and SEC examinations.

Mr. Bielefeld has extensive experience working with investment managers focused on private markets investments to structure and design registered funds and BDCs to enable broader investor access to private markets strategies. Additionally, he has worked extensively with long established registered fund managers as they develop unique and innovative products encompassing private markets strategies.  

Prior to joining Dechert, Mr. Bielefeld served as an attorney-advisor in the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations.

Mr. Bielefeld has been recognized by The Legal 500 US in the area of financial services regulation.

    • Nuts and Bolts of BDCs — LSTA, Webinar (March, 7, 2024)
    • Structuring for Investor Demand, 2022 Permanent & Private Capital Summit, Dechert LLP – New York, NY (May 24 – 25, 2022)
    • Primary Market/Product Development: Unlisted Closed-End Funds — Investment Company Institute's Virtual Closed-End Fund Conference (November 9, 2021)
    • Less Traditional Assets: Creative Solutions and Strategies in Portfolio Construction 2021 Permanent & Private Capital Summit, Virtual Conference (June 2-3, 2021)
    • Preserving Fund Liquidity: Practical Guidance for Managing Distributions – Dechert LLP, Webinar (March 30, 2020)
    • Private Funds Nuts & Bolts: Allocation Issues for Private Funds/ '40 Act Registered Funds – Dechert LLP, Webinar (June 12, 2019)
    • Private Credit, BDCs & Everything in Between: Co-Investment Exemptive Relief – Dechert LLP, Webinar (May 15, 2019)
    • Private Credit, BDCs & Everything in Between: Private BDCs – Dechert LLP, Webinar (January 16, 2019)
    • Marketing and Distribution of Interval Funds – Industry Trends –The Rise of Interval Funds: They're Back and Better Than Ever, Dechert LLP, New York, NY (December 4, 2018)
    • Riding the BDC Consolidation Wave – Dechert LLP, Webinar (October 28, 2015)
    • Offering Alternative Strategy Funds to Retail Investors - Dechert LLP, New York, NY (April 29, 2015)