Mikhaelle Schiappacasse's practice focuses on the structuring, establishment, management, marketing, and restructuring of fund platforms and investment funds, across a broad range of domiciles and asset classes, including hedge, private debt, real estate, private equity and fund of funds. Ms. Schiappacasse also advises on the establishment of asset management businesses, including the drafting and negotiation of shareholders' agreements and limited liability partnership agreements. She also acts for investment funds and their managers on general corporate, regulatory and compliance matters.
Ms. Schiappacasse is a Co-Head of Dechert’s Global Sustainability Practice, and in this capacity, she is a leading member of the firm's ESG working groups and advises asset managers on compliance with the EU Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) and the EU Taxonomy Regulation and other European ESG-related regulatory matters.
Mikhaelle Schiappacasse is listed as a next generation partner for hedge funds by The Legal 500 UK. In previous editions, clients state: “Mikhaelle Schiappacasse is outstanding to work with,” adding that she “knows how to leverage the breadth of skills within Dechert to suit our needs as a client”. In addition, she is described as “dedicated, diligent and a valued member of our inner circle. Mikhaelle goes above and beyond”.
Ms. Schiappacasse speaks frequently at industry events and contributes regularly to thought leadership on issues impacting the asset management industry, in particular in the sustainability sector.
- Advising on the establishment of a Luxembourg singled legged master-feeder hybrid hedge fund structure investing in stressed and destressed credit for a start-up investment manager and assistance in the set-up of their investment management business.
- Advising on the establishment of an Irish, Luxembourg and Cayman Islands fund of managers platform investing in private credit and negotiation of investment management mandates across a range of leading European and US credit managers.
- Restructuring a Cayman Islands managed account into a Cayman Islands/Delaware double-legged master-feeder fund pursuing an event driven equities strategy.
- Establishing a single-legged Luxembourg opportunistic master-feeder hedge fund and a closed ended Cayman Islands/Luxembourg master-feeder overflow fund to invest alongside the main fund.
- Assisting in the establishment of a Maltese/Delaware venture capital fund platform and the establishment of multiple funds investing across Europe and the US investing in fintech, biotech and other venture opportunities.
- Launching an Irish hedge fund pursuing credit opportunities and assisting the same in expanding to take on private equity positions in financial services businesses.
- Advising a global fund of funds manager on their approach to implementation of the EU Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) and EU Taxonomy Regulation globally across their private equity, debt, real estate and infrastructure businesses.
- Advising a US investment manager in relation to their transition of over a dozen alternative investment funds and UCITS funds in Ireland and Luxembourg into Article 8 or “light green funds” under SFDR.
- Assisting a number of US based private equity, private credit and real estate investment managers define their approach to Article 8 under SFDR in connection with the marketing of their funds under national private placement regimes into the EU or the establishment of Luxembourg parallel funds.
- Assistance with the transition to or establishment of Article 9 or “dark green” alternative investment funds and UCITS funds under SFDR pursuing a variety of strategies, including private equity and liquid credit.
- Providing advice to a number of global asset managers in relation to their approach to the development and approval of Article 8 and/or Article 9 products under SFDR.
- Next Generation Partner: London - Investment Fund Formation and Management: Hedge Funds - The Legal 500 UK
- Named finalised "ESG Private Practice Champion" - The Legal500 ESG UK Awards (2024)
- Dechert named finalist for “ESG Initiative of the Year” - Legal Week’s Women, Influence & Power in Law UK Awards (2024) - for firmwide progress on ESG-related matters, particularly for the efforts of Mikhaelle Schiappacasse and Katie Carter in helping drive the creation of a standout ESG practice.
- Named among "50 Leading Women in Hedge Funds" - The Hedge Fund Journal (2023)
- Finalist for “Investment Funds Lawyer of the Year” - European Women in Business Law Awards (2021)
- Shortlisted for “Legal Advisor of the Year” - London Women in Finance Awards (2020)
- Finalist for “Best in Investment Funds” - European Women in Business Law Awards (2019)
- Panel Discussion – Charting the Course: Post-Paris Policies, COP 28 Outcomes, and the Asset Management Terrain - Funds Congress, London (February 2024)
- Threading the Needle: Considering EU ESG Requirements - Dechert, London (December 2023)
- Fund Structuring: Hybrid and Evergreen Funds - Dechert’s Private Funds COO and Operations Forum, London (November 2023)
- Women in Private Debt: The state of play in private debt - PEI, London (November 2023)
- Navigating the Juxtaposition Between EU and U.S. ESG Regulations - ICI, 2024 Securities Law Developments Conference, Virtual (October 2023)
- Fireside chat | ESG Integrated Disclosure Project one year on - Alternative Credit Council Global Summit, London (October 2023)
- Threading the Needle: Considering EU ESG Requirements in Light of the U.S. Backlash - Dechert, New York (September 2023)
- ESG in private markets - the viewpoint of alternative credit managers - AIMA: Putting ESG into Practice 2023, London (September 2023)
- Unlocking Luxembourg Fund Opportunities for UK Private Fund Managers - Dechert, London (July 2023)
- SFDR – Periodic Reporting: Lessons Learned - Webinar (July 2023)
- Private Funds Roundtable Series: SFDR - Dechert, London (April 2023)
- ESG reporting and compliance - IBA - 21st Annual International Conference on Private Investment Funds, London (March 2023)
- ESG in Europe: where are we now and where are we going? – SuperReturn Private Credit Europe, London (March 2023)
- AML & ABC FORUM – Presentation: Adapting ABC and AML Frameworks to Manage ESG Supply Chain Risk Effectively and Efficiently (Mar 2023)
- ESG Developments in the EU and U.S.: Impact on U.S. Asset Managers - Dechert, Boston (September 2022)
- ESG Developments in the EU and U.S.: Impact on U.S. Asset Managers - Dechert, New York (September 2022)
- ESG and Money Management - Financial Markets Conference, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta - Amelia Island (May 2022)
- Current Developments Affecting the Fund Industry - Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Investing - ICI Conference, Palm Desert, CA (March 2022)
- SFDR and Taxonomy Regulation: What the Regulators Did Next - Webinar (February 2022)
- Building Back Better - EFAMA Investment Management Forum, Virtual Conference (November 2021)
- US and European Compliance with ESG Mandates, European Workshop for the Institutional Investor Legal Forum - Paris (November 2021)
- DE&I and ESG: As the World Turns - 2021 Permanent & Private Capital Summit - Virtual Conference (June 2021)
- EU ESG Regulatory Developments - SFDR Phase 2: Implementation of the RTS - Webinar (May 2021)
- ESG and Asset Management: Challenges and Opportunities - Committed Capital Podcast (April 2021)
- Diversity in the Private Credit Industry: An Upward Trend? - Fireside Chat with Olivia Scanlon, COO of Orchard Global Asset Management, Alternative Credit Council Global Virtual Summit (April 2021)
- Private Credit and ESG - ACC Quick Takes, AIMA, Webinar (October 2020)
- ESG Considerations for U.S. Asset Managers - Webinar (May 2020)
- Absolute Priority: Dechert ESG Taskforce Tackles Growing Initiatives and Obstacles, Debtwire Radio, US and Europe (March 2020)
- Structuring Your Next Hedge Fund Product – Market Trends and Considerations - Webinar (September 2019)
- Breaking New Ground - Alternative Credit Council Global Summit, London (June 2019)
- Updating Your Compliance Calendar for 2019: Key Corporate and Regulatory Requirements Affecting U.K. Fund Managers for 2019 - London (January 2019)
- ESG Around The World: The UK - Law360 (October 2023)
- ESG for Asset Managers - International Comparative Legal Guide - Environmental, Social & Governance Law 2023 & 2022 (December 2022 & 2021)
- Developments in Fund Structuring and Marketing - Private Debt Investor (July 2021)
- The Rise of ESG Investing - ICLG - Alternative Investment Funds, Eighth Edition (2020)
- The EU Taxonomy Regulation - essentials - Lexis Nexis
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- Sarah Lawrence College, B.A., 2001
- The George Washington University Law School, J.D., 2004, Honors, Staff member of the American Intellectual Property Law Association Quarterly Journal
- University College London, LL.M., Banking and Finance, 2006
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- England and Wales
- New York
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- Connecticut Appellate Court, Honorable Alexandra DiPentima