Sarah Burnside

Sarah is a Partner in the Financial Services Group and leads the financial services team in Edinburgh.

She advises on the formation of unauthorized funds and a range of regulatory matters, including AIFMD, MiFID II, PRIIPs, MAR, financial promotion, and ESG and sustainable investing. Sarah is ranked as an "Associate to Watch" in Chambers for closed-ended funds, and is described as "a real driving force who is very energetic and responsive."

Sarah specializes in investment funds and advises clients within the financial services sector, including asset managers, depositaries, custodians, institutional investors, funds (investing in various asset classes, including equity, debt, energy, infrastructure, real estate, forestry, as well as fund of funds) and fund administrators on fund launches, capital raisings, restructuring, relationships with service providers, investments and regulatory compliance.

She regularly advises on investment launches, mergers, reorganizations and liquidations, and equity security issues of investment trusts, investment companies, limited partnerships and unit trusts. Sarah regularly reviews, advises on and negotiates commercial contracts such as AIFM, portfolio management, investment advisory, depositary, custody, administration, introducer, co-investment, limited partnership, limited liability partnership and other asset management-related agreements.

Sarah is also experienced in advising institutional investors on their investments into infrastructure, private equity, and venture capital funds and other alternative investment funds, having reviewed and negotiated fund documentation for numerous funds established in the UK, Luxembourg, the US, Australia, the Cayman Islands, the Channel Islands and Ireland.

She regularly provides regulatory advice, focusing on AIFMD, MAR, MiFID II, PRIIPs, ESG and responsible investing, the Prospectus Regulation and application of the UK financial promotion regime to financial service clients.

In her spare time Sarah enjoys hiking, trying new restaurants and traveling.