Overview
Butzel's attorneys have significant experience with a wide variety of private investment funds including private equity funds, hedge funds and venture capital funds. We represent fund sponsors, lead investors, investment advisers, broker-dealers and major investors. Our lawyers' private fund experience includes organization of master feeder and domestic and offshore funds and funds of funds. We also assist clients with the creation and representation of pooled real estate funds, including real estate investment trusts (REITs) and other pooled real estate investment vehicles. We advise private investment clients in all aspects of their operations, including fund formation, assistance with raising capital, tax planning, regulatory compliance, platform and add-on acquisitions and dispositions, portfolio company representation and enforcement matters. Our regulatory advice addresses issues arising under federal and state securities laws, the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Investment Advisors Act of 1940, the Commodity Exchange Act, and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). We represent private equity clients in structuring, negotiating and executing leveraged buyouts, management buyouts and other acquisitions and equity investment transactions. These representations include structuring and implementing various financing alternatives and designing management incentive compensation programs. We also represent private equity clients in various forms of "exit" transactions, whether structured as auction sales, privately negotiated dispositions or public offerings. Our attorneys represent portfolio companies of private equity clients through all aspects of their operations, including subsequent financing, add-on acquisitions and general company representation. Butzel's private investment fund capabilities are bolstered by the firm's resources in all areas of corporate law as well as other practice areas including patent and intellectual property, real estate, tax, labor and employment, commercial lending, workouts and bankruptcy. The firm has provided services to private fund clients in numerous industries including technology, automotive, service industries and health care among others.