Complete legal advice for investment funds

Successfully launching a new fund can be a time consuming and involved business, with ever-increasing layers of regulation and tax compliance, as well as market practice, to be aware of. For many, it's also a passion project involving years of personal time and resources.

Our investment funds lawyers have the experience to take managers smoothly through this process, from structuring and establishing the fund and related fund management businesses to team incentivisation through carried interest and co-investment structures, investor negotiation and on into the ongoing operation of the fund. We also advise on co-investment structures, SPVs and funds-of-one, and joint ventures. We truly partner with our clients on this journey, providing knowledgeable, pragmatic advice in an efficient and friendly fashion.

I love this firm. They are responsive, knowledgeable, and creative: everything you want. They as a firm are business-oriented, creative, entrepreneurial and nimble. Their people are consistently excellent, even the most junior that I work with.

Investment funds client, Chambers and Partners

How we can help you

Our range of services include:

  • advising new market entrants on the structure of their fund management businesses, and advising existing firms on governance, incentivisation and other issues;
  • structuring and establishing fund vehicles across various asset classes, including real estate, private equity, venture capital, hedge funds and others;
  • advising on the structure and terms of carried-interest and performance fee arrangements and GP commitments;
  • establishing co-investment vehicles, SPVs and joint ventures;
  • tax planning and structuring;
  • GP and LP led secondaries;
  • service provider relationship negotiation; and
  • providing regulatory advice around management, sustainability and greenwashing, capital-raising, trading and distribution. 

We like the combination of OC acting at fund level and transaction level. They have a long term understanding of our client base and our commercial requirements which makes for a smooth relationship with our clients.

 Real estate funds client, Legal 500

Our investment funds lawyers

Our international team has been helping managers to successfully structure, launch and manage funds for years and our experience covers the vast range of fund structures and strategies.  We work closely with our deal teams and international network in Europe and the US, to provide comprehensive and coordinated legal advice. 

Experience

Salt Capital 

We have advised Salt Capital, a private equity investment firm focused on Africa, on the formation of its new private equity fund,  The Fund will principally target best in class consumer facing small- and medium-sized enterprises across the Southern...

Foresight

We have advised Foresight Group, an alternative assets and SME investment manager, on the launch of numerous regional focused private equity funds, including (in 2024) the Foresight South West Fund, IFW (Welsh Fund) and the Foreight Northern Ireland...

Giant Ventures Early Growth II LP

We have advised on the launch of Giant Ventures Early Growth II LP, Giant's climate-focused growth fund which held its final close, raising in excess of its original hard cap, in January 2025. This was the third fund (alongside various SPVs) we have...

Kester Capital LLP

We have advised Kester Capital LLP, a UK focused private equity firm, on its third fund focusing on lower middle market buyout investments in Western Europe. Fund III has exceeded its target of £150 million in commitments and has secured investment...

Giant Ventures Seed II LP

We have advised on the launch of Giant Ventures Seed II LP, Giant's second seed-stage fund, which has a focus on early stage tech start-ups, in particular those focusing on climate, health, and inclusive capitalism - across the UK, the US, and the...

Firstminute Capital LLP

We have advised firstminute capital LLP, a seed-stage venture firm, with the launch of their third VC fund, investing in early stage technology businesses, advising them on all legal and tax aspects in relation to the fund, having advised on the...

MMC Ventures Limited

We have advised MMC Ventures Limited on two growth stage funds and a variety of deal-specific SPVs backed by institutional investors, advising on legal, tax and regulatory issues.

Illuminate Financial Management

We have advised Illuminate Financial Management, a venture capital firm and long-standing client of the firm since the launch of its first fund in 2015, on its third fund focusing on early stage investments in capital markets fintech. 

Fund III held...

SCVC

We have advised Bristol-based deep tech VC SCVC on the launch of its second investment fund in 2023. The fund focusses on health and climate deep technology.

BGV Investment Management Limited

We have advised BGV Investment Management Limited, a London based venture capital firm, on the establishment of its second fund, an enterprise capital fund in collaboration with British Business Finance Ltd, which has a focus on pre-seed and seed...

I have dealt with many professional services firms over the years and the OC hedge practice stands out due to its very high level of client focus. Hedge fund client - Legal 500
They do a lot of work in the UK VC funds space and so they know the market exceptionally well. Private funds client - Legal 500
I would highly recommend Osborne Clarke's real estate funds team which does all of our fund structuring, co-investment and joint venture work. They are highly experienced, very commercial and responsive. Real estate fund client - Legal 500
An all-around excellent, reliable, easy-to-work-with team with a good partner, associate visibility, and excellent industry know-how. Real estate fund client - Legal 500
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