Asset Management Examinations and Enforcement
Notable Representations, Key Contacts
Our team, which includes former senior officials from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), brings deep, first-hand insight into how regulators think, examine, investigate, and enforce. With experience across the SEC’s Division of Enforcement, Division of Examinations, and Division of Investment Management, we help clients anticipate regulatory risk and respond strategically when issues arise.
A Team Built for the Modern Regulatory Landscape
Regulatory challenges rarely exist in isolation. They often require coordinated advice across compliance, regulatory, enforcement, and litigation disciplines.
In coordination with the regulatory team in the firm’s Private Funds group, our practice is intentionally cross-disciplinary, bringing together lawyers with backgrounds in regulatory counseling, internal investigations, and enforcement defense. This structure enables us to deliver 360-degree coverage for asset managers, whether they are seeking proactive compliance guidance or responding to regulatory scrutiny.
We advise a broad range of clients, including:
- Registered investment advisers
- Private funds sponsors and managers, including private equity, private credit, real estate, and venture capital funds
- Hedge funds
- Mutual funds and other registered investment companies
- Family offices and emerging managers
- Broker-dealers and other financial intermediaries serving asset managers
SEC Examinations and Regulatory Inquiries
SEC examinations can present significant operational and reputational risks. We help clients prepare for, manage, and respond to regulatory exams and information requests.
We assist with:
- Mock SEC examinations and regulatory readiness reviews
- Preparation for SEC examinations
- Managing document productions and regulatory communications
- Responding to deficiency letters and examination findings
- Advising on remediation and corrective action plans
- Evaluating the possibility of referral to Enforcement
- Regulatory risk assessments for new products, strategies, and business lines
Because our team includes former SEC officials who have conducted and supervised examinations, we understand how exam staff approach reviews and how issues can escalate into enforcement referrals.
Enforcement Defense and Investigations
When regulators begin investigating, or when compliance issues arise, early strategic guidance is critical. Our team represents clients in SEC enforcement matters and parallel regulatory inquiries, guiding them through every stage of the process.
Our enforcement capabilities include:
- Representation in SEC investigations and enforcement actions
- Wells submissions and advocacy before the SEC
- Internal investigations and fact-finding
- Defense of advisers, funds, and individuals in regulatory proceedings
- Coordination with parallel civil, criminal, or regulatory investigations
We also help clients identify potential issues early and conduct internal reviews designed to mitigate risk before regulators become involved.
Key Contacts
Shortcut Links
The Asset Management Corner, hosted by Andrew Dean and Chris Mulligan, is a podcast that dives deep into SEC examinations, enforcement actions, and regulatory trends impacting investment advisers, private fund managers, and other financial professionals.