Recently advising on financial regulatory and governance mandates, Dentons acts for a variety of clients, with a particular emphasis on closed-ended listed funds; the team is also expanding its fund formation offering. Team lead Claire Armstrong is the first port of call for close-ended listed funds, and also assists fund managers and sponsors with regulatory and transactional matters. Stuart Fitzsimmons is well-regarded for his strength in financing transactions, while Owen McLennan has recently advised on impact investing and fund establishment issues for first-time managers. Sarah Wylie provides further regulatory, advisory and transactional capabilities, while Sam Smart has been involved in investment and merger mandates.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Claire Armstrong and Sarah Wylie are excellent and with complimentary skills. Claire has a good technical knowledge, and Sarah is tremendously hard working and a very good funds lawyer'
‘Excellent Listed funds team - we wouldn't use anyone else! ’
‘Dentons has been proactive in communication and are professional and collaborative. They have super customer service and delivery.’
- 'Sam Smart has been impeccable and essentially the engine behind the team ensuring proper communication, tracking, feedback, and updates as the project progressed.’
‘As an in-house general counsel I have been very pleased with how we have been able to dovetail our respective roles. The Dentons team have also been able to call upon international specialists very effectively. ’
‘Sarah Wylie, who I have worked with the most, is dedicated, knowledgeable and respected by her clients.’
Key clients
- Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office
- Hanseatic Asset Management LBG and Hansa Investment Company
- Baillie Gifford & Co, The Scottish American Investment Company and Monks Investment Trust plc
- Shires Income plc
- Invesco Select Trust plc
- abrdn Japan Investment Trust plc
- abrdn New Dawn Investment Trust plc
- European Opportunities Trust plc
- The Edinburgh Investment Trust
- Juniper Partners
Work highlights
- Acting as ;ead lawyers to the FCDO on the UK government's flagship programme, MOBILIST.
- Advised Hanseatic Asset Management on investments by three of its clients into Truebridge Direct Fund III LP.
- Retained to provide regulatory and strategic advice to independent global investment manager Baillie Gifford in respect of its investment trust funds range.
Lawyers
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Practice head
Claire Armstrong
Other key lawyers
Stuart Fitzsimmons; Owen McLennan; Sarah Wylie; Sam Smart