Up and Coming – Investment Funds: Regulatory & Compliance
Chambers USA 2025
“Laura is proactive in warning us about new regulations. “
Chambers USA 2025
“She is able to convey messages in a common language and has the expertise and technical detail as well.”
Chambers USA 2025
“Thorough knowledge of the law, expertise in the industry and ability to navigate the issues that arise. “
Chambers USA 2025
Notable Women in Law
Crain's Chicago Business 2024
Profile
Laura Ferrell, partner in the Investment Funds – Regulatory Strategy group, advises clients on a wide range of complex legal, regulatory, and compliance matters across the asset management industry. Her practice focuses on SEC regulation of investment advisers and private funds.
Laura draws on deep experience to proactively counsel investment managers and other financial institutions navigating all aspects of SEC regulation and related compliance matters.
Laura serves as lead counsel to many prominent asset managers and has successfully navigated clients through numerous complex SEC examinations and enforcement investigations as well as high-profile asset management M&A and liquidity solutions transactions.
Laura advises a broad cross-section of the asset management industry, including leading global investment advisers and financial services institutions, with respect to a variety of public and private investment vehicles:
Private equity funds
Private credit funds
Hedge funds
Business development companies (BDCs)
Alternative investment funds
Open- and closed-end mutual funds, interval funds, and tender offer funds
Structured products
Laura advises clients on cutting-edge legal, regulatory, and compliance matters in connection with:
SEC examinations and enforcement investigations
The formation of private investment funds and the structuring and development of new investment products
M&A and IPO transactions involving asset managers
GP-led secondaries and minority stake transactions
Critical firm-level issues, including succession planning, management team spin-outs, and related governance matters
The registration of investment advisers under the Advisers Act and related regulatory and reporting matters
Family office advice
Seeking and obtaining exemptive and no-action relief from the SEC
Investment adviser status analysis under the Advisers Act and related regulatory and compliance considerations
Investment company status issues arising under the 1940 Act and related regulatory matters
Capital markets, financing, and restructuring transactions involving asset managers and investment funds
Experience
Laura’s representative clients include:
Allianz Capital Partners and Allianz Global Investors
Apollo
Ares Management and Ares Capital Corporation
Blue Owl Capital
The Carlyle Group
Carousel Capital
Corient Capital
Cresset Capital
Energy Capital Partners
GCM Grosvenor
Global Infrastructure Partners
GTCR
Harvest Partners
IVP
J.P. Morgan
L Catterton
Lindsay Goldberg
Morgan Stanley Investment Management
Orion Infrastructure Capital
ParaFi Capital
PIMCO
Searchlight Capital
Sprott
StepStone
Tallvine Partners
Recent Thought Leadership
“SEC and CFTC Propose Significant Amendments to Private Fund Reporting Requirements,” Latham & Watkins Client Alert (April 2026)
“DOL Proposes New ERISA Safe Harbor for Alternative Investments in Retirement Plans,” Latham & Watkins Client Alert (March 2026)
“FinCEN Postpones New AML Rule for Investment Advisers,” Latham & Watkins Client Alert (July 2025)
“SEC Withdraws Proposed Rule on ESG Disclosures for Investment Advisers and Investment Companies,” Latham & Watkins Article (June 2025)
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