Institutional Managers

Institutional managers in particular have faced many challenges and opportunities in recent times with new technology, ever-sharper fee pressures, global demographic change, a turbulent political environment and near-constant regulatory change, to which they have had to respond by dynamically adapting products, operations, distribution channels and the way they manage their suppliers and their people. We get that.

We have a deep understanding of your business and have specialists on hand to help you rise to meet these challenges and make the most of the opportunities. Unlike many large global law firms we have had a focus on asset management for many years and our lawyers build their careers with asset management front and centre of their practices. Our sector approach ensures that our expertise across our firm in global corporate M&A, contentious regulatory, employment, finance, tax, intellectual property etc is deployed to assist our institutional asset management clients to achieve their goals. Some examples might help to demonstrate this.

Big Data
Take big data for example. The growing amount of data held by asset managers presents opportunities for greater statistical analysis and development of bespoke products but that is counter-balanced by the challenge of securing and managing that data to the satisfaction of investors and regulators. Our risk management and data experts can help you to navigate these aspects.

FinTech
Equally in the area of developing technology, we help clients deal with the tension between being more creative, whether in terms of new asset classes and strategies or in the use of technology in an innovative way, and staying compliant with developing regulation. We take the lead in working through tricky and often fledgling areas of law ensuring adequate transparency to, and value for, investors.

SMCR and Culture
In the UK, the FCA agenda has focussed in recent times on rolling out its requirements for individual responsibility within regulated businesses to asset managers in the form of the Senior Managers & Certification Regime. Equally high on the priority list for clients is their “culture” with ever-increasing scrutiny on diversity, corporate governance and other culture issues. Our employment and regulatory teams work hand in hand with our contentious team to help clients implement holistic solutions that fit their business but meet the concerns of regulators.

Fund Formation
We advise global asset management firms on the establishment of investment fund vehicles in various onshore and offshore jurisdictions including the UK, Ireland, Luxembourg and the Cayman Islands. Our team advised Man Group on the launch of a unique and complex UCITS sub-fund notable in terms of its power to select from a range of strategies run within the Man Group through a combination of the appointment of multiple sub-investment advisers and the use of total return swaps.
Our work on this project demonstrates our capabilities in assisting clients in exploring the boundaries of what can be achieved in a UCITS structure.

Regulatory
We advise on the full range of financial services regulatory matters, including strategic regulatory issues relating to business re-organisations, digital platforms and other fund marketing and distribution arrangements globally.
We advised Jupiter Asset Management upon its establishment of a new EU hub in Luxembourg, the establishment of branches of the EU hub in multiple EU jurisdictions and the transfer of the business of Jupiter’s UK firm into the new EU hub and into the new branches. This is one of several similar projects that we have advised on in response to Brexit involving a number of jurisdictions and the co-ordination of multiple regulatory processes in a cost effective manner.

Derivatives
We advise the “buy side” of the derivatives market on products including both bespoke structures and high-volume products as well as general advice on the full range of exchange-traded and over-the-counter products (e.g. ISDAs and repurchase agreements). The team advise on practical steps to be taken to implement EMIR obligations including reporting and clearing.

Corporate M&A
We have significant experience of buying and selling asset management companies and businesses (including strategic stakes) and capital raising transactions as well as IPOs and corporate registrations.