DLA Piper advances International strategy with formal sector for Investment Management & Funds

26 June 2024 – DLA Piper International announces the formal launch of a new sector community – Investment Management & Funds (IM&F) to align with market trends and in response to increasing client demand, and the expansion of its team with more dedicated specialist lawyers and business advisory professionals.

With a dedicated international team from multiple disciplines, DLA Piper International is now formalising and further expanding the assistance offered to its clients across the entire investment management and investment funds value chain.

Led by Luxembourg-based partner Catherine Pogorzelski, the sector leverages DLA Piper’s expansive international footprint to deliver value-added services with best-in-class legal, regulatory, and tax advice. This comprehensive support addresses the complex and cross-jurisdictional legal, regulatory, and tax needs of asset managers, investment fund sponsors, and investors, across a range of asset classes and investment strategies covering:

•    private funds including private equity, venture capital, private credit, infrastructure and energy, real estate, hedge and other alternative asset classes covering both institutional and retail segments focusing on alternative investment funds;
•    the full investment fund lifecycle: from strategic planning and launch, operation and ultimate liquidation;
•    the entire investment fund value chain: from investor to investment level;
•    all relevant lifecycle issues including fund formation, tax, securities, regulatory, governance, carry and performance fee structuring, M&A, project finance, transactional work, employment, restructuring, trademarks, data protection,  and disputes; and
•    end-to-end legal, regulatory, and business advice to assist clients through their sustainability transformation efforts and agenda.

Since establishing the team in 2021, DLA Piper has significantly grown its IM&F capabilities with a combined 120 partners and 350 team members offering specialist legal, regulatory and tax advice across the entire IM&F value chain.

Catherine Pogorzelski, International Sector Head, Investment Management & Funds, commented: “Since introducing our Investment Management and Funds capabilities in 2021, the diversity and volume of our IM&F client engagements have grown extensively. This development not only affirms our team’s robust cross-border value proposition but also highlights our unique ability to navigate the complexities of legal, regulatory, and tax landscapes internationally. With the formalisation of this sector, we are poised to deepen our industry alignment, leveraging DLA Piper’s sector-based approach to deliver insights and solutions that are finely attuned to the dynamic needs of our clients. Our commitment is to empower asset managers and investors to deploy their strategies effectively across global markets, enhancing their operational efficiency and strategic growth in an increasingly complex environment.”

Stéphane Lemarchand, Managing Director, Clients and Sectors, EMEA and Asia Pacific added: “The enhanced capabilities offered by our growing IM&F team will underpin DLA Piper’s international growth strategy. By incorporating IM&F into our international Sector community, our clients will benefit from seamless legal counsel across multiple disciplines and jurisdictions. The depth of our global team enables us to provide innovative solutions that empower our clients to achieve their business goals and objectives.”

Additional Information: DLA Piper’s sector approach aligns with industry-specific challenges and opportunities, providing clients with insights and solutions that resonate deeply with their business operations. The firm’s broad sector coverage includes Consumer Goods, Food and Retail, Energy and Natural Resources, Financial Services, Industrials, Infrastructure, Construction and Transport, Insurance, Life Sciences, Media, Sports and Entertainment, Real Estate and Technology.