DLA Piper Expands International Strategy with New Investment and Fund Management Business

DLA Piper International has officially launched a new industry community, Investment Management & Funds (IM&F), in response to growing market trends and increased client demand. This new sector is part of DLA Piper’s strategic focus on providing comprehensive legal, regulatory and business advisory services to clients across the entire investment management and investment funds value chain.

The IM&F sector, led by Luxembourg partner Catherine Pogorzelski, brings together DLA Piper’s extensive international presence to offer specialist support on legal, regulatory and tax matters. The sector responds to the complex needs of asset managers, mutual fund sponsors and investors, spanning a wide range of asset classes and investment strategies. Key areas of interest include:

• Private funds such as private equity, venture capital, private credit, infrastructure and energy, real estate, hedge funds and other alternative assets, serving both institutional and retail segments.
• Supporting the full life cycle of investment funds: from strategic planning and launch, through operation, to final liquidation.
• Comprehensive coverage of the investment fund value chain: from investor to investment level.
• Dealing with all lifecycle issues including fund formation, tax, securities, regulatory, governance, transfer and performance fee structuring, mergers and acquisitions, project finance, transaction work, employment, restructuring, trademarks, data protection and disputes.
• Providing comprehensive legal, regulatory and business advice to support clients’ sustainability transformation efforts.

Since the inception of the IM&F team in 2021, DLA Piper has significantly expanded its capabilities, now boasting a combined team of 120 partners and 350 professionals. This team provides expert advice across the IM&F value chain, strengthening the firm’s ability to deliver value-added services globally.

Catherine Pogorzelski, International Sector Director for Investment and Funds Management, noted: “Since launching our IM&F capabilities in 2021, the diversity and volume of our client engagement has increased significantly. This formal sector development highlights our strong cross-border value proposition and our unique ability to navigate complex legal, regulatory and tax landscapes internationally. By formalizing this sector, we aim to deepen our industry alignment, leveraging DLA Piper’s sector approach to deliver tailored insights and solutions that meet the dynamic needs of our customers. Our commitment is to enable asset managers and investors to successfully implement their strategies in global markets, driving 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 of our growing IM&F team will underpin DLA Piper’s international growth strategy. IM&F’s inclusion in our international sector community allows us to offer seamless legal advice across multiple disciplines and jurisdictions. The depth of our global team allows us to deliver innovative solutions that help our clients achieve their business goals.”

DLA Piper’s sector approach addresses industry-specific challenges and opportunities, providing clients with insights and solutions that deeply resonate with their business operations. The company’s broad footprint includes consumer goods, food and retail, energy and natural resources, financial services, industrials, infrastructure, construction and transportation, insurance, life sciences, media, sports and entertainment, real estate and technology.