Clients turn to Akerman’s Investment Management Practice for practical, business-focused counsel that advances their goals and supports the full lifecycle of their platforms. We advise fund sponsors, investment managers, and institutional investors from initial structuring and launch through operations, compliance, transactions, liquidity events, and market developments. Our team provides clear, commercially grounded guidance on fund formation, regulatory compliance, governance, and investment management transactions, working seamlessly with colleagues across key disciplines to deliver integrated advice that helps clients make informed decisions, manage risk, and position their businesses for long-term success.
Fund Formation and Structuring
Akerman’s lawyers structure and launch private investment funds across a broad range of strategies and vehicles. We help clients navigate investor expectations, regulatory considerations, and market dynamics to bring new platforms and products to market efficiently and effectively. Our experience spans open-end and closed-end funds, drawdown and evergreen vehicles, series structures, hybrid and multi-strategy platforms, parallel funds, LP- and GP-led secondaries, continuation vehicles, and specialized co-investment, joint venture, single-investor, and managed account arrangements. We counsel private equity, private credit, hedge fund, real estate, and venture capital sponsors, investment managers, and institutional allocators on structuring, formation, and ongoing operational needs.
Regulatory and Compliance
With a deep understanding of U.S. federal securities laws and global regulatory regimes, we help clients anticipate regulatory expectations and manage compliance risk. Akerman advises on SEC and CFTC/NFA compliance, including the Advisers Act, Investment Company Act, Securities Act, Exchange Act, Commodity Exchange Act, and related filings, reporting, and governance requirements. We assist clients in building and enhancing compliance programs, preparing for SEC examinations, and responding to inquiries and enforcement matters. Our team also guides clients through crisis-driven challenges, including internal reviews, investor disputes, and regulatory investigations.
Management Company and Governance Matters
We support clients on the full spectrum of management company and general partner issues that shape platform stability and long-term strategic planning. This includes entity structuring, ownership and economic arrangements, profit-sharing and incentive programs, succession planning, and governance frameworks. Akerman advises sponsors, senior investment professionals, and institutional investors on operational and governance matters that influence control, culture, and continuity across investment platforms.
Investment Management Transactions
Akerman counsels clients through complex transactions that impact ownership, operations, and investor relationships. Our work includes seeding and anchor investments, GP stakes transactions, investment team spinouts and lift-outs, investment management M&A, strategic partnerships, revenue-share arrangements, platform transitions, LP- and GP-led secondaries, continuation vehicles, and fund restructurings. We help clients navigate pivotal strategic events with a clear understanding of commercial implications, regulatory considerations, and investor expectations.
Integrated, Lifecycle Support
Investment management businesses face dynamic regulatory, operational, and market forces. Akerman partners with clients at every stage — launch, growth, change, and transition — to deliver coordinated, actionable advice. By drawing on the strengths of the firm’s leading practices in private equity, M&A, tax, ERISA, finance, bankruptcy and reorganization, employment, and litigation, we provide comprehensive, business-forward solutions that help fund sponsors, managers, and investors operate with confidence, respond to evolving market conditions, and pursue long-term objectives.
