Our client base covers a broad range of the fund sponsor spectrum, from some of the largest, most well-established players to emerging participants. We have formed funds for a significant number of clients ranging from multi-billion dollar funds, to middle-market funds, to funds for emerging clients.

Our Private Funds lawyers handle:

• The formation of private investment funds of all sizes and investment strategies, including buyout funds, growth equity funds, middle market funds, infrastructure funds, real estate funds, debt funds, funds-of-funds, secondary funds, special situations funds and hedge funds;
• The establishment of investment firms (including negotiating investment professionals’ exits from prior employers) and advising on their operation, regulation and internal governance arrangements, including strategic issues such as succession planning, monetization alternatives, the admission of new firm partners and separation matters;
• Advising on the acquisition and sale of minority and majority stakes in fund sponsors as well as spinouts of fund businesses and management teams;
• Representing buyers and sellers of portfolios of private fund interests in secondary transactions;
• Counseling sponsor clients who are considering “public capital” alternatives, including the creation of publicly listed private equity funds and management companies;
• Structuring “non-fund” investment arrangements, such as managed accounts, for sponsors and/or small investor groups, as well as co-investment vehicles;
• Creating carried interest and employee co-investment schemes and advising on executive incentivization and retention arrangements; and
• Representing institutional investors, including sovereign wealth and major pension funds, in connection with their investments in funds and participation in co-investments and other related transactions.

Weil helps shape the market with novel and forward-thinking approaches to fund terms and structures. We are regularly retained by both new and existing clients to advise on transformational transactions and matters of high strategic importance to the fund managers themselves. Much of our work involves innovative solutions to complex issues and extends beyond the mere “cookie-cutter” assignments. By combining our private funds regulatory capabilities across the United States and Europe, we are able to offer clients unique insights into global regulatory and tax developments that affect their fundraisings.

Weil’s Private Funds practice is fully integrated with our transactional practices, allowing us to provide comprehensive support for all our private funds clients. We also offer dedicated tax and regulatory professionals that keep clients up to speed on the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, Dodd-Frank (including “Volcker Rule” provisions), and AIFMD. We provide 24/7 commercial advice to managers on the raising of capital, the deployment of capital and the realization of their investments for the entire duration of their funds’ lives. Our Private Funds practice is highly integrated with the Firm’s Private Equity execution practice and our clients benefit from seamless commercial advice across both the formation and investment processes.