Investment funds
Our range of services includes:
- Private fund formation and operation: We understand the commitment and energy involved in any new fundraising process, whether a first fund or the next in a stable of many. Our clients need to have absolute confidence in their legal advisers from the very first term sheet through to establishment and beyond. Advising on all aspects of the marketing, formation, regulation and ongoing management and operation of private funds and their related co-investment schemes and feeder funds, as well as incentive arrangements, is central to what we do. We are highly rated for private equity, venture capital, mezzanine, renewable energy, infrastructure and all types of real estate funds.
- Regulated funds: Our long-standing involvement in the regulated funds arena, and particularly UCITS, ensures that we can always provide clients with authoritative advice. We act for investment fund and financial product providers including stand-alone fund management houses and the investment arms of integrated houses. Our work revolves around regulated fund formation and authorisation, advice on product design and regulatory and tax issues.
- Investors: Our fundraising experience and regular reviews of fund terms for clients provides us with an in-depth understanding of the key legal and commercial points. We frequently advise investors in all types of funds and this ensures we gain an overall view of the market, enabling our clients to obtain the most appropriate investment terms. We have also, more recently, been very active in advising clients on transactions in the developing secondaries market.
- Asset management documentation: In order to provide our clients with a comprehensive service, we regularly draft and review asset management-related documentation, including asset management agreements, prime broker agreements, derivatives documentation and custodian agreements. We have also advised clients on a number of Lehman related issues.
- Partnerships and LLPs: Many of our asset management clients are established as limited liability partnerships with limited partnership fund structures. In addition, a number of our private clients have established family partnerships for the purposes of personal estate planning. We provide advice on all legal, tax and regulatory aspects relating to these vehicles.
Related practice areas
"Bridget Barker's nine-partner team at Macfarlanes LLP has a top-notch reputation within the domestic market, both for public and private funds. Private equity is a mainstay of the firm, and Barker and Stephen Robinson have an active fund formation and advisory practice, for clients such as Alchemy Partners, Hermes Private Equity, and Gresham. On the open-ended side, Tim Cornick's practice acts for Aberdeen Asset Management, Fidelity and Old Mutual, to a name a few. Robinson and Matthew Blows are two of the main contacts for closed-ended funds, and recently advised Acencia Debt Strategies on its restructuring proposals."
The UK Legal 500 2010
"This firm is prominent in open-ended retail funds, including UCITS. It garners a lot of recognition for delivering consistent and precise work in fund-raising matters. Recent highlights include acting for Signet Global Fixed Income Strategies on prospectus approval, and for the advisory board to Candover 2008 on the restructuring of the fund. Clients call the team 'innovative and forward-thinking'."
Chambers UK 2011