Investment Funds and Investment Companies

Dechert has one of the largest investment fund practices in the world, with a record of innovation stretching back 40 years. We advise across the full range of mainstream and alternative asset classes and strategies, representing some of the world’s largest fund complexes, as well as small- and mid-size complexes.

We were the first and are the leading law firm with a funds team that spans all five principal European fund centers — London, Luxembourg, Dublin, Frankfurt/Munich and Paris — as well as the United States, Middle East and Asia. We operate as a single partnership across the globe with no internal barriers to collaboration.

Clients look to us for support across the entire fund lifecycle, from development and formation, to marketing, operations and transactions. We provide advice related to fund management and governance, as well as assist with the full range of regulatory and compliance issues. Our team also assists with investigations and litigations involving regulatory entities around the world.

These are some of our strengths in the investment funds arena:

• Private funds – We advise sponsors and principals of over 700 private funds – including hedge funds, private equity and venture capital funds, credit and debt funds, and secondaries funds – in fund formation, capital raising, restructuring and all ongoing matters. Our lawyers handle domestic and offshore funds investing in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, the U.S. and all other international markets, covering all classes.
• Mutual Funds – Our team advises over 60 mutual fund groups, which encompass thousands of separate mutual funds and client assets exceeding US$5.5 trillion.
• Exchange-Traded Funds – Our 30-plus ETF lawyers represent more than 20 ETF sponsors, a significant share of the entire sponsor universe.
• Money Market Funds – We advise sponsors and managers of money market funds in connection with both day-to-day operational issues and the strategic decisions arising in the evolving regulatory environment.

Recognized for excellence in investment funds

We are consistently recognized as a top law firm for investment funds by a number of publications in the U.S., Europe, Asia and the Middle East, including The Legal 500 and Chambers Global, which noted that Dechert is “Highly respected as a major player in the hedge fund market with strong teams in several key locations worldwide” (2017).

Chambers USA noted that Dechert is “Recognized as one of the leading teams of dedicated registered funds experts in the nation” (2017). The Legal 500 UK called Dechert “A recognised leader in the funds business”, while Chambers Asia-Pacific noted that Dechert is “highly regarded in Hong Kong and Singapore for its knowledge of hedge and private equity funds” (2017). IFLR 1000 rated Dechert Tier 1 for investment funds/registered funds in 2017. Dechert’s investment funds practice has also been recognized by Practical Law Company, The Hedge Fund Journal, ETF.com, Private Debt Investor, HFMWeek, Who’s Who Legal and Best Lawyers.