Strength, depth and experience that delivers integrated investment management expertise for clients
Overview
McCann FitzGerald's Investment Management Group advises a wide range of clients who are engaged in the promotion and management of investment funds and in the provision of fund administration and custody services. Clients include some of the largest institutions and investment managers in the domestic and international funds markets.
Expertise
The Investment Management Group combines within one group legal, regulatory, stock exchange listing, tax and business advisory expertise.
Members of the Investment Management Group have a particular expertise in UCITS, structured products, QIFs, hedge funds and property funds, having acted as project manager and legal advisers for the establishment of a number of complex and innovative structures.
Through the firm's subsidiary, McCann FitzGerald Listing Services Limited, which is an approved listing sponsor at the Irish Stock Exchange, we provide Stock Exchange listing services for investment funds, as well as debt and derivative securities.
Irish Funds
McCann FitzGerald acts for clients on all aspects of investment management, providing a full range of advice and services to Irish authorised funds, their promoters, directors, managers, administrators and custodians. Our Investment Management Group has extensive experience in advising on the structuring and establishment of investment funds.
The team advised on the establishment in Ireland of the first UCITS III fund in Europe (2003). We continue to be at the forefront of regulatory developments in relation to UCITS and other relevant funds legislation, including the AIFM Directive, through participation in the Irish Funds Industry Association’s Legal and Regulatory and Alternative Investment Committees and in the Taoiseach’s Investment Funds Legislative Sub-group.
We also advise investment managers, fund custodians and fund administrators on regulatory issues that may affect them, as well as negotiating on their behalf arrangements which they may enter into with Irish-domiciled investment funds.
Hedge Funds / Alternative Funds
The members of the Investment Management Group at McCann FitzGerald have extensive experience in advising on the establishment of hedge funds and other alternative investment strategies in a variety of jurisdictions, with a particular focus on Irish-authorised funds. We have experience in both drafting and reviewing prime broker agreements and we have also advised prime brokers and derivative counterparties in respect of arrangements which they have entered into with Irish hedge funds.
Tax Expertise
Our firm, uniquely among Irish law firms, has a specialist tax division within our Banking & Financial Services Group which advises on all Irish tax aspects of financial services transactions, including investment funds. If required, our tax colleagues will be able to advise on all of the tax implications in relation to both the investment funds themselves, the establishment of the Irish management company and also in relation to the tax consequences for the investors in the funds.
MiFID
We represent many domestic and international institutions (as well as start-up entities) carrying out investment business activities or providing investment advice in or from Ireland. The areas in which we are particularly involved relate to investment managers and investment advisers, fund administrators and fund custodians. More generally, the firm’s inward investment team can also advise on all aspects of establishing a business in Ireland. We are active participants in industry representative bodies and assume a pro-active role in relation to legislation and regulatory requirements applicable to this industry.
Directory Comments
"McCann FitzGerald is 'on a par with any leading firm in Ireland', with team head Mark White in particular recommended". The Legal 500, 2011
"The investment management practice at this full-service firm sits within the wider banking and finance department, and benefits from a considerable breadth of expertise, resulting in a truly multidisciplinary approach. The team is well known for handling complex products rather than high-volume commoditised work". Chambers, 2011
"They have very good lawyers and when you have good lawyers on each side it makes life easier," says one client, adding: "The lawyers at McCann's are very attentive and thorough". International Financial Law Review, 2011
"It has built an excellent team that acts as a one-stop shop in relation to all funds-related issues," say clients. The firm is noted for handling complex, less commoditised work. "The approachability and warmth of the team make the ongoing business relationship easy to maintain," clients enthuse, adding: "We value its responsiveness, proactive approach and ability to facilitate the management of our business with the regulator." Chambers, 2010