Investment Funds: Closed-ended Listed Funds
UK Guide 2025 : UK-wide
Band 1
Contact number
+44 20 7374 8000Chambers Review
Herbert Smith Freehills is a leading firm in the listed funds space and is known for advising on the largest, most high-profile and complex IPOs. It represents a wide selection of the most prominent investment banks and asset managers and provides comprehensive regulatory and compliance advice. Herbert Smith Freehills' team is also experienced in advising on fund formation and restructuring matters.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"It's a high-calibre team, in terms of both technical excellence and very effective transaction execution, all delivered in highly user-friendly manner."
"A highly experienced team that is very strong at partner level."
"They are very knowledgeable and have depth to their experience. They are the market leaders."
"The team have inbuilt client history and knowledge, which they are able to leverage for best effect in the advice they provide. They have wide industry knowledge and keep up to date with requirements."
"It's a high-calibre team, in terms of both technical excellence and very effective transaction execution, all delivered in highly user-friendly manner."
"A highly experienced team that is very strong at partner level."
"They are very knowledgeable and have depth to their experience. They are the market leaders."
"The team have inbuilt client history and knowledge, which they are able to leverage for best effect in the advice they provide. They have wide industry knowledge and keep up to date with requirements."
Notable Practitioners
Nigel Farr is the pre-eminent closed-ended listed funds lawyer in London. He counts premier funds and investment banks among his clients and advises those groups on fund launches and secondary capital raising.
"Nigel has a long history as engagement partner. He has excellent commercial awareness."
"Nigel is outstanding on investment trusts advice."
"Nigel is a very good operator and a standout individual."
"Nigel is the guru of investment trust work in the UK. He is utterly fantastic, very easy to deal with and personable. His credibility in the marketplace is second to none."
Stephen Newby represents banks, sovereign wealth funds and other institutional investors in investment structuring.
"Stephen is very calm, sensible and practical with his advice."
"Stephen offers excellent, no-nonsense advice."
"Stephen would be my first call for any fund-related questions."
"Stephen has superior market knowledge and is very skilled. He is a pleasure to deal with and has high technical knowledge of carried interest plans."
Tim West acts on a comprehensive range of mandates relating to closed-ended funds. His recent work includes fund redomiciliation and restructuring.
"TIm West is exceptional."
"Tim West is a very good partner there."
"Tim has provided excellent strategic advice."
Up-and-coming partner Shantanu Naravane has a burgeoning listed funds-focused practice. He assists clients with a range of matters, including IPOs and restructurings.
"Shantanuoffers consistently excellent advice and level of service."
"Shantanu wants to make sure you understand the commercial implications of the instructions you are giving. He is willing to subtly challenge the client if needed and is good at non-lawyer comms."
"Shantanu advises across a range of structuring and live transactions and is a pleasure to work with."
"Shantanu has been very helpful to us."