Sadis & Goldberg is one of New York’s leading law firms and its financial services practice enjoys an international reputation. The Financial Services Group is made up of a team of seasoned legal professionals who routinely handle a diverse range of enquiries across the investment universe, providing legal counsel to several hundred investment advisers, broker-dealers and commodity pool operators that sponsor, manage and advise hedge funds, private equity and venture capital funds and separately managed accounts.
“We represent more than 600 hedge and private equity funds and have been advising the alternative investment community for over 15 years,” says partner and head of financial services Ron S Geffner (pictured). “Our team’s extensive experience in representing the financial community provides us with significant economies of scale and the background to respond to most legal issues in a timely and cost-effective manner.
“We regularly provide legal assistance to both domestic and offshore investment funds, including fund formation and the restructuring of existing funds. Over the past 12 months, our team has been actively involved in the creation of more than 50 new funds.”
Sadis & Goldberg’s clients include equity long/short, global macro, emerging market, risk and convertible arbitrage, high-yield bond, country-specific (such as Japan) and sector-specific (for example biotechnology) funds, funds of funds and multi-manager funds.
The firm provides a full range of legal services both domestically and internationally. In addition to the Financial Services Group’s work, Sadis & Goldberg regularly handles securities, commercial and employment litigation and arbitration for all types of clients, as well as investor due diligence. Everything from structuring and formation analysis to asset verification and portfolio review is handled by the firm’s lawyers, always with attention to the cost and time sensitivities of any given issue.
This past year also saw the addition of several attorneys to Sadis & Goldberg’s Regulatory and Compliance Group in a strategic expansion stemming from recent regulatory failures within the financial services industry, the passage of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, and subsequent regulatory inquiries.
The group’s thorough understanding of the regulatory environment has proved vital in the increasingly competitive and more closely scrutinised financial services industry. In addition to providing regulatory and compliance advice to its clients operating within the financial services industry, it also advises such clients on tax, ERISA and real estate issues.
Throughout 2010, the firm has been actively focused on regulatory issues, litigation, fund formation and reorganisation. According to Geffner, the hedge fund community’s biggest concern has been lack of clarity on the part of the US government.
The Securities and Exchange Commission has been opaque and has not provided guidance with sufficient advance notice, he adds. For example, as of June 3 the SEC had yet to provide clarity on whether there would be an extension for the registration requirements imposed on certain investment advisers under Dodd Frank.
What sets Sadis & Goldberg apart from the competition? “Our firm is cutting edge,” Geffner says. “We are creative, responsive and available. We see ourselves as business partners practicing law. We provide practical legal advice and business judgment to assist our clients in making better business decisions.”
On winning the award, Geffner adds: “The Hedgeweek USA Award for Best Law Firm ranks amongst the top global awards, and we are honoured to be recognised by our industry peers in this category.”
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