Laura Ferrell

Laura Ferrell, partner in the Investment Funds – Regulatory Strategy group, advises clients on a wide range of complex legal, regulatory, and compliance matters across the asset management industry. Her practice focuses on SEC regulation of investment advisers and private funds.

Laura draws on deep experience to proactively counsel investment managers and other financial institutions navigating all aspects of SEC regulation and related compliance matters.

Laura serves as lead counsel to many prominent asset managers and has successfully navigated clients through numerous complex SEC examinations and enforcement investigations as well as high-profile asset management M&A and liquidity solutions transactions.

Laura advises a broad cross-section of the asset management industry, including leading global investment advisers and financial services institutions, with respect to a variety of public and private investment vehicles:

- Private equity funds

- Private credit funds

- Hedge funds

- Business development companies (BDCs)

- Alternative investment funds

- Open- and closed-end mutual funds, interval funds, and tender offer funds

- Structured products

Laura advises clients on cutting-edge legal, regulatory, and compliance matters in connection with:

- SEC examinations and enforcement investigations

- The formation of private investment funds and the structuring and development of new investment products

- M&A and IPO transactions involving asset managers

- GP-led secondaries and minority stake transactions

- Critical firm-level issues, including succession planning, management team spin-outs, and related governance matters

- The registration of investment advisers under the Advisers Act and related regulatory and reporting matters

- Family office advice

- Seeking and obtaining exemptive and no-action relief from the SEC

- Investment adviser status analysis under the Advisers Act and related regulatory and compliance considerations

- Investment company status issues arising under the 1940 Act and related regulatory matters

- Capital markets, financing, and restructuring transactions involving asset managers and investment funds