Experience

Sponsor Representation

Hanson Bridgett advises sponsors of private investment funds across a full range of legal issues. Our attorneys have a wealth of experience in advising them on the organization of a variety of private investment funds and similar products – whether structured as a fund, separate account, or other arrangement, irrespective of the focus of the asset class in the investment strategy. These include the following types of funds: buyout, CDO/CLOs, co-investment, fund of funds, hedge, mezzanine, real estate, secondary, and venture capital.

In addition to fund formation, we counsel sponsors as to the structure and operation of the entities that serve as general partners and managers to their funds. We pay close attention to internal governance and economic arrangements (including the allocation and vesting of carried interest). This includes joint ventures with, and investments from third parties, generational transition and other partner additions and departures, estate planning, placement agent agreements, subscription lines of credit, labor and employment matters, intellectual property and insurance coverage.

We also have considerable experience in helping private fund sponsors comply with the increased regulation they are subjected to around the world. 

Investor Representation

Our representation of institutional investors focuses on the complexities associated with a wide range of alternative investments and transactions.

A core part of our private fund practice is the representation of a broad and significant number of institutional investors in connection with their alternative investment activities. Our services to institutional investors include representing them in negotiating all parts of their agreements. This starts with the terms of their commitments to hundreds of private investment funds each year, as well as advising them with respect to separately managed account arrangements, co-investments, and secondary transactions. We also represent fund advisory boards in their negotiations with fund sponsors.

Based on years of legal experience and activities in the market, we are intimately familiar with identifying and resolving the special commercial, regulatory, and tax concerns of different types of investors. We work with pension funds, corporations, tax-exempt organizations, funds of funds, sovereign wealth funds and foundations.

Our in-depth experience with the intricacies of fund documentation enables us to quickly identify significant economic issues that are otherwise difficult to uncover, and to craft solutions to complex tax, ERISA and other problems facing potential investors.

We are a member of several legal networks that permit us to address special tax and structuring issues involved in funds that focus on regions like Australia, Canada, Africa, Brazil, China, Europe, India and Asia.

We have assisted our institutional investor clients with:

• Buyout funds
• CDOs/CLOs
• Credit opportunities funds
• Energy funds
•  Fund of funds
• Hedge funds
• Loan funds
• Mezzanine funds
• Natural resources funds
• Real estate funds
• Royalty funds
• Single member funds
• Special Situations
• Venture capital funds