England - London • Investment fund formation and management
Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP
Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP‘s ’friendly, available and honest’ retail funds team acts for investment managers seeking to establish new funds, with particular strength in ESG-focused funds covering asset classes including debt, infrastructure and real estate. The practice group also assists clients with applications to the FCA, including for new Long-Term Asset Fund (LTAF) structures and consumer duty matters, in addition to providing advice on SFDR. Practice head Michaela Walker acts for both fund managers and depositary banks on fund structuring and oversight and cash monitoring, while also driving the team’s ESG work. Julian Brown advises on the formation of collective investment schemes and fund reorganisations, while Phil Spyropoulos focuses on regulatory issues, including ESG matters. Martin Sandler joined the team from Ernst & Young LLP in October 2022, advising on fund transactions, restructurings and associated regulatory issues.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'The team is great at sharing regulatory updates and are very proactive.'
- 'They can distil complicated regulatory issues into bite size pieces of information, and they aren't scared to simply answer "yes" or "no" when needed, which is what is needed when a commercial decision is required.'
- 'I work mainly with Michaela Walker, who always makes herself available.'
- 'Very insightful knowledge of what the regulator expects.'
- 'Friendly, available and honest.'
- 'Julian Brown is a very knowledgeable partner.'
- 'The firm is deep and broad in its experience and expertise.'
- 'Michaela Walker is an exceptional lawyer and leader, across retail funds yet fully also across the full spectrum of fund and investment management.'
Key clients
- Schroders
- Santander Asset Management UK Limited
- M&G Securities Limited
- Aviva Investors
- Fidelity
- Franklin Templeton
- Ninety One
- St James Place
- AEW UK
- First Sentier Investors (UK) Funds Limited
- Rathbones Unit Trust Managers
- Sarasin & Partners
- Janus Henderson
- Hargreaves Lansdown Fund Managers
- UBS Global Asset Management (UK)
- Baring Asset Management Limited
- Carne
- Columbia Threadneedle
- Evelyn
- Kames
- Phoenix Unit Trust Managers
- Seven Investment Management
- Thesis Unit Trust Management
- T Rowe Price
Work highlights
- Advised on one of the UK’s first long-term asset funds (LTAF). After receiving regulatory approval from the FCA in an expedited three months, our client’s LTAF is expected to be the second to ever launch in the UK and the first of its kind in terms of asset class and strategy.
- Advised Franklin Templeton on a large restructuring project to combine the Franklin Templeton and Legg Mason fund ranges under a single brand identity.
- Advised Oasis Crescent on the establishment of the first Shariah-compliant retail fund range in the UK which meets demand for financial products that are suitable for British Muslims and that tie in with religious, social and ethical beliefs of investors.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Michaela Walker