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Investment Management

Investment Management

Our experienced team can help you navigate risk and capitalize on opportunities with expert advice on all aspects of your operations. Our counsel enables clients to meet strategic objectives and respond to matters relating to organization, governance, compliance, and transactions.

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Investment Management

Navigating the Complexities of Investment Management

Doing business is more complex than ever in today’s dynamic environment. Our experienced investment management attorneys can help you navigate risk and capitalize on opportunities with expert advice.

We provide a full range of services that enable clients to meet strategic objectives and respond to issues of organization and operations, governance, compliance, and transactions. Our team serves investment advisers, family offices, registered funds, private funds, broker-dealers, institutional investors, and clients involved in mergers and acquisitions.

Why Choose Godfrey & Kahn

Our deep investment management bench includes attorneys who have worked at the SEC and served as in-house counsel to large asset management firms. Seated within a full-service corporate law firm, we provide seamless service integration across other related practice areas, including corporate and securities, banking and financial institutions, data privacy and cybersecurity, litigation, tax, and employee benefits.

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Investment Advisers

We represent state and SEC registered investment advisers, as well as exempt advisers, that advise registered funds, institutional investors, and individual investors. Our services include:

  • Organization and Operation – Comprehensive business support, from formation and registration of investment advisers to preparation and negotiation of client and service provider agreements to drafting of regulatory disclosures
  • Compliance – Advice on general compliance and legal issues, including advertisements, marketing materials, performance reporting and presentations, personal trading, trade allocation, best execution, and soft dollar arrangements; assistance with SEC and state examinations, findings letters and administrative actions, including planning and performing mock audits; and chief compliance officer support, including development of compliance programs suited to the business needs of the adviser
  • Transactions – Mergers, acquisitions, and joint ventures involving investment advisers, as well as transition to a family office structure
Registered Funds

We represent U.S. registered investment companies, including open-end mutual funds, exchange listed closed-end funds, closed-end interval and tender offer funds, and exchange-traded funds. Our services include:

  • Organization and Operation – Organization and registration of fund entity with the SEC, review of periodic filings, preparation and negotiation of service provider agreements, advice on distribution of investment products, and review of advertising and marketing materials, including websites and performance disclosures
  • Governance – Advice on organization and operation of investment company boards, including independence analysis and committee structure; attendance at board meetings; and advice to board members regarding fiduciary responsibilities and regulatory matters
  • Independent Director/Trustee Representation – Advice on all aspects of the role of independent director/trustee, including guidance regarding specific responsibilities under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and state law; facilitation of annual self-assessments; and coordination of annual “Section 15(c)” contract review
  • Compliance – Advice on general compliance and legal issues, including issues arising under federal securities, privacy and anti-money laundering laws; assistance with SEC examinations, findings letters and administrative actions; preparation of SEC exemptive applications and no-action requests; assistance with stock exchange listings and ongoing compliance; assistance with CFTC/NFA compliance and related filings; and chief compliance officer support, including development of a compliance program specific to the investment being offered
  • Transactions – Reorganizations, acquisitions and liquidations of registered funds, private fund and bank collective investment fund conversions, and mutual fund-to-ETF conversions
Private Funds

We represent domestic and offshore hedge funds, private equity funds, venture capital funds, and other private funds, including master/feeder funds and funds-of-funds, as well as fund sponsors. Our services include:

  • Organization and Structure – Organization of entities, advice on avoiding investment company status under the Investment Company Act of 1940 as well as qualification of investors and structuring issues regarding permitted investors, advice on product development and structure, tax planning and advice, and preparation and negotiation of service provider agreements
  • Documentation – Preparation of organizational materials, private placement memoranda, subscription agreements, purchaser questionnaires and related documents; negotiation of side letters; and preparation and filing of SEC Form D and state “blue sky” filings
  • Compliance – Advice on general compliance and legal issues, including advice on SEC and CFTC/NFA exemptions available to sponsors; advice on securities law requirements relating to general advertising and solicitation; and preparation and review of compliance procedures
  • Transactions – Private fund-to-registered fund conversions, and assistance with negotiation and closing of equity investments in, and mergers and sales of, portfolio companies
Broker-Dealers

We represent both full-service and limited purpose broker-dealers with services in the areas of:

  • Organization and Operation – Formation and registration of broker-dealers, preparation of FINRA membership applications, preparation and review of customer agreements and regulatory disclosure documents, and advice regarding advertisements and other marketing materials
  • Compliance – Advice on general compliance and legal issues, including net capital requirements, customer protection rule and risk management requirements; assistance with SEC, FINRA, and state examinations, findings letters, and administrative actions; and chief compliance officer support, including preparation and review of written supervisory procedures
  • Transactions – Mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures involving broker-dealers, including related discussions and negotiations with FINRA staff  
Institutional Investors

We represent institutional investors, including public pension plans, insurance companies, financial institutions, and ultra high net worth investors, in connection with their investments in alternative investments including: commingled and single investor hedge funds, private equity funds, venture capital funds, and other private funds; co-investments; direct investments; and funds-of-funds. We also counsel such clients on investments in exchange-traded and over-the-counter derivatives.

Mergers & Acquisitions

We have substantial experience advising on the legal, business, and financial issues relating to the full spectrum of transactions, including:

  • Asset and stock acquisitions and divestitures
  • Strategic mergers
  • Recapitalizations, refinancings, and other types of corporate restructurings
  • Leveraged and management buyouts
  • Ownership transition and management succession

We collaborate with our nationally recognized M&A practice group to address regulatory, tax, employee benefits, intellectual property, technology, and other due diligence matters that may arise over the course of your transaction.

We regularly represent:

  • Investment companies and their investment advisers in connection with investment company reorganizations involving both affiliated and non-affiliated funds
  • Investment advisers in connection with acquisitions of portfolio management teams, purchases, and sales of registered and non-registered investment products (e.g., registered investment companies, private funds, and separately managed accounts), and purchases and sales of entire asset management businesses
  • Listed closed-end funds in connection with issuer tender offers, proxy fights, dissident directors/trustees, and shareholder activism
  • Investment company independent directors/trustees in connection with all aspects of transactions affecting the funds they oversee
  • Private equity and venture capital funds in connection with mezzanine and equity investments in portfolio companies, and reorganizations and sales of portfolio companies
  • Founders of investment management firms with respect to succession planning

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