Simmons & Simmons has a highly specialised international asset management and investment funds team. We have experts in fund formation, financial services regulation, trading documentation (including prime brokerage and derivatives documentation), corporate structuring and transactions, litigation, taxation and employment regulation. We have an in-depth understanding of the asset management industry. Recognised by the legal directories and the industry as being one of the leading firms in the sector, we advise:
- hedge funds
- private equity funds
- sovereign wealth funds
- real estate funds
- infrastructure funds
- institutional managers.
We have an alliance with leading US firm Seward & Kissel LLP for hedge fund and asset management work. The alliance combines the strength of pre-eminent hedge fund and asset management practices in London, New York and Hong Kong to offer a top tier combined service for hedge funds and their managers around the world. Clients have immediate access to full service hedge fund and asset management expertise: from fund formation and management, to all advisory services such as regulation, derivatives, corporate structures, tax, litigation, employment, IP, finance, government investigations and transactional services.
- Best European Law Firm of the Year HedgeWeek Awards 2013 and The Leading Law Firm at the Hedge Fund Journal Awards 2013 – this is the 3rd year running that the firm has won this double accolade
- we advise 31 of the top 50 European hedge fund managers and 14 of the top 20 US hedge fund managers
- we advise 13 of the top 20 Global Asset Management firms and 15 of the Top 20 European Asset Managers by AUM
- we advise on the full range of legal and regulatory issues for asset management firms of all types internationally.
The following are some examples of our recent transactions:
Anacap Financial Partners LLP
advising on its acquisition of Cabot Financial from Citigroup Capital UK Limited and Barclays Private Equity
Apax Europe V Fund
advising on the acquisition of PCM Uitgevers, one of the leading Dutch newspaper and book publishers
Armajaro
Aspect Capital
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advising on the launch of a range of CTA products, including offshore hedge funds, UCITS funds, single-investor funds and managed accounts
Attestor Capital
BlackRock
BlueBay
BlueCrest Capital Management
Brevan Howard
Boussard & Gavaudan
Capula Investment Management
Celtic Pharma
Edoma
Finisterre Capital
Gilde Participaties
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advising Gilde and other shareholders in the management buy-out of Grozette, Axxicon, Hevea, Curtec, Bakkerij Bart and Johma Signature
Lansdowne Partners
Mandarin Capital Fund
Oak Investment Partners
Sun Capital Partners
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advising and assisting affilitates of Sun Capital Partners, Inc on the Hong Kong, Chinese, Korean, Malaysian and Indian aspects of their acquisition of the Performance Fibers Business from Honeywell International Inc.
Tyrus Capital
Verrazzano Capital
WHARD Stewart
Winton
A range of clients
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advising a range of clients, including independent fund managers as well as fund management arms of global banking groups, on private equity and real estate fund formation and related carried interest and co-invest incentive arrangements
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advising institutional investors on their commitments to private equity and real estate funds
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advising various clients on restructuring their private equity fund management businesses, including by way of mergers and joint ventures.
The core asset management team is based in London and is led by 80 partners and supported by 105 associates and 30 other legal staff. The wider international team operates primarily from our network of international offices.
The focus of our practice is on the following key areas:
Fund structures
- Hedge funds – advising hedge fund managers on the full range of issues relevant to the launch and management of hedge funds and funds of hedge funds.
- Private equity funds – advising financial institutions and independent private equity managers on the full range of legal structuring and implementation issues relating to the formation of private equity funds and funds of private equity funds, and in relation to investing in private equity funds.
- Real estate and infrastructure funds – advising on all forms of property fund (closed- and open-ended, corporate and partnership, onshore and offshore) including specialist tax structuring.
- Listed closed-ended funds – advising asset managers and fund sponsors in relation to the launch and restructuring of closed-ended funds (including investment trusts).
- Retail funds – advising asset managers on the launch, restructuring, promotion and operation of UK unit trusts and open-ended investment companies (OEICs), UCITS funds (including Luxembourg and Irish funds) and other funds available for promotion to the public.
- Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) – advising on the full range of issues relevant to the launch and management of ETFs.
Regulatory
We advise Asset Management & Investment fund firms on the full range of financial services regulatory matters, including advising on all aspects of compliance with applicable regulatory requirements as well as strategic regulatory issues relating to such matters as business reorganisations and start-ups, fund marketing and short selling, often involving a cross-border element.
Derivatives
We advise the user side of the derivative market on products including bespoke structures and high-volume products as well as general advice on the full range of exchange-traded and over-the-counter products (eg ISDAs and repurchase agreements).
Corporate M&A
Focusing on mergers and acquisitions, ownership structures and IPOs of client businesses in this sector, we have significant experience of buying and selling asset management companies and businesses (including strategic stakes) and private equity transactions.
Tax and other issues
We regularly involve our specialists in tax, litigation, property, employment, intellectual property, IT, data protection and insurance law to advise our clients.