Investment Management

The investment management industry is expected to continue to experience a rapid pace of change in the coming years. New investment strategies, shifting demographics and investor needs, the influence of financial technology, expense trends and increasing regulatory pressures are all proving to be industry game changers. As these extraordinary challenges for the industry continue, Goodwin is uniquely positioned to provide comprehensive and innovative solutions as market participants prepare for these changes, and our team can help clients capitalize on new opportunities and navigate the growing marketplace challenges.

Goodwin is repeatedly ranked among the top law firms for its comprehensive investment management practice. We have extensive experience representing regulated and private funds, independent directors, investment advisers, insurance companies, trust companies/departments, private wealth managers, custodian banks, transfer agents, retirement plan sponsors, securities lending agents and other fund service providers. Our business and litigation lawyers work together shoulder-to-shoulder to provide holistic services to our investment management clients, not only defending those clients when litigation arises, but providing counseling to clients about ways to avoid litigation. We endeavor to foresee where the next wave of litigation will emerge from before it arrives.

We take pride in establishing a thorough understanding of the business and goals of each client, and we have a deep knowledge of the markets and the complex regulatory environments in which our clients operate based on our decades of experience. This integrated approach results in strategic advantages, efficiency, and sensitivity to issues.

With a long history of representations of a wide variety of investment management clients, our expertise is broad and deep. In addition to our practice focused on registered funds, Goodwin has strong practices in private investment funds including hedge funds, private equity funds, real estate funds and venture funds. Our investment management work capabilities are further enhanced by the firm’s key complementary strengths in tax, bank and fiduciary regulation, broker-dealer regulation, debt financing, ERISA, executive compensation and employment, intellectual property, privacy & cybersecurity, and trade regulation.

Strategic Transactions & Structures

Assist clients in the creation and launch of all types of funds, including registered funds using alternative strategies.
Represent financial and strategic investors, management teams and firms in minority and controlling investment transactions and capital markets transactions.
Represent funds and their independent directors in fund, acquisition mergers and reorganizations and other strategic transactions.

Advisory & Regulatory Compliance

Counsel industry participants in navigating increasingly complex regulatory and compliance requirements and avoiding pitfalls in structuring and operating funds and other investment products.
Form and represent registered open- and closed-end funds, exchange-traded funds and business development companies, and represent independent trustees, investment advisors and other registered fund service providers.
Represent clients in their interaction with the SEC and other regulatory agencies, from informal interactions to formal proceedings.
Work with clients on SEC filings, from interacting with regulatory authorities in processing registration statements to, and in preparing and negotiating no-action letters and exemptive applications.
Advise on a broad spectrum of board-related matters, including governance structure, contract renewal, significant transactions and risk oversight.

Investigations & Litigation

Represent mutual fund advisers and fund independent directors in connection with mutual fund fee litigation.
Defend our investment management clients in the event of regulatory investigations and litigation, including “bet-the-company” defenses, enforcement actions, FCPA, False Claims Act, government and internal investigations, and whistleblower litigation.

Our team is very active and highly regarded in the investment management industry and maintains close working relationships with financial regulators and industry groups. Many of our partners have been selected for inclusion in Chambers USA and The Best Lawyers in America and regularly serve as panelists and speakers at industry conferences.

Chambers USA

Ranked leading firm by Chambers USA
M&A Advisor

Global industry recognition as finalist for Cross-Border Deal of the Year, Deal Financing Deal of the Year, and Financial Services Deal of the Year Awards.

Hedge fund markets are facing extraordinary challenges, including increased competition and a changing global regulatory environment. With extensive experience and resources in this industry, we help our hedge fund clients find opportunities, capitalize on them and provide better service to their investors.

We offer interdisciplinary expertise and an understanding of the “big picture” – which is critical for clients who offer their investors a wide ra

Few firms offer the breadth of practice that we bring to private fund managers and investors. We understand the issues specific to different types of funds and offer advice that comes from a wealth of experience across industries and global markets. Our lawyers work in all the key industries, including, real estate, venture capital, private equity, infrastructure, natural resources and hedge funds, raising funds worldwide that range from less than $50 million to over $12 billion. The depth and breadth of our experience allows us to provide our clients with the most current market terms for their industry as well as access to cutting-edge developments across industries.

We handle every stage in the life cycle, and we provide fund managers with the sophisticated level of counsel required for forming, advising and operating private investment funds. Within fund formation, we take a creative approach, starting with not only the specific objectives of a particular fund but also an assessment of how the fund fits within the client’s broader business goals. We then help fund managers determine the best structure and terms to achieve those goals.

Hedge Funds

We offer interdisciplinary expertise and an understanding of the “big picture” – which is critical for clients who offer their investors a wide ra

Private Investment Funds