Edward Smith > Linklaters LLP > London, England > Lawyer Profile

Edward Smith

020 7456 3111 edward.smith@linklaters.com View profile

Work Department

Investment management

Position

Edward is a senior funds partner, and one of the firm’s global investment management sector leaders. He is a specialist in the structuring, marketing and establishment of real estate, private equity and infrastructure funds, carried interest and co-investment schemes and other forms of asset management arrangement, advising both managers and a number of large institutional investors.

Edward has considerable knowledge in listed funds, and, working in collaboration with the firm’s equity capital markets lawyers, he advises issuers, underwriters and alternative asset managers on permanent capital vehicles and other listed funds. Edward is knowledgeable in the use of funds techniques and practices into other forms of corporate transaction, such as joint ventures, investment clubs and similar arrangements.

Edward has particular knowledge of the implications of the EU Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD), and has also been advising a number of clients on the impact of the referendum decision by the UK to leave the European Union, particularly on the issue of passporting rights.

Edward was based in Hong Kong between 2009 and 2012, as head of the Funds practice, and he continues to service Asian funds, as well as supervise some aspects of the funds work of the firm’s Hong Kong office from London.

Work highlights:

• Prologis on the structuring and set up of a £1 billion joint venture with CBRE Global Investment Partners for the purpose of acquiring land, developing buildings and operating and holding logistics real estate assets in the UK
• Prologis its €2.4bn joint venture with Norges Bank Investment Management (NBIM)
• Barings (formerly Cornerstone) on the establishment of the Barings European Core Property Fund, utilizing the new Luxembourg special limited partnership structure
• Eurocastle Investment Limited on its innovative €75m tender offer
• A leading UK headquartered alternative asset manager on a series of acquisitions of minority interests in asset management businesses;
• A number of large sovereign investors on a series of investments into leading private equity, real estate and infrastructure funds
• Mitsubishi Corporation on two fund vehicles to create a global strategic investment alliance, bringing together funds into an alliance

Career

Trainee solicitor Linklaters, London and New York 1997-99; associate Linklaters, London 1999-2004, managing associate Linklaters, London 2004-07; partner Linklaters, London 2007-09; partner Linklaters, Hong Kong 2009-12; partner Linklaters, London 2012 to date.

Education

Magdalen College, Oxford (1993-96 BA Law).