Laura N. Ferrell is a partner in the Corporate Department and a member of the Investment Funds Practice and Financial Institutions Industry Group.

Ms. Ferrell advises a broad cross-section of the asset management industry on a variety of complex legal, regulatory, and compliance matters. In addition to advising leading global financial services institutions, Ms. Ferrell represents a variety of public and private investment vehicles including:

  • Private equity funds
  • Private credit funds
  • Hedge funds
  • Business development companies (BDCs)
  • Robo-advisors
  • Alternative investment funds
  • Open- and closed-end mutual funds
  • Structured products

Ms. Ferrell advises clients on cutting-edge legal, regulatory, and compliance matters in connection with:

  • SEC examinations, investigations, and enforcement proceedings
  • The formation of investment funds and the structuring and development of new investment products
  • The acquisition and sale of registered investment advisers
  • The registration of private equity sponsors and other investment advisers under the Advisers Act and related regulatory and reporting matters
  • Investment adviser status analysis under the Advisers Act and related regulatory and compliance considerations
  • Capital markets, financing, and restructuring transactions involving asset managers and investment funds
  • Investment company status issues arising under the 1940 Act and related regulatory and compliance matters
  • Seeking and obtaining exemptive and no-action relief from the SEC

While in law school, Ms. Ferrell was a contributing editor on the Michigan Law Review.

Ms. Ferrell’s representative clients include:

  • BlackRock
  • Blue Owl
  • The Carlyle Group
  • Consonance Capital Partners
  • Credit Suisse
  • Dyal Capital Partners
  • Energy Capital Partners
  • Global Infrastructure Partners
  • Golden Gate Capital
  • GTCR
  • J.P. Morgan
  • Onex Corporation
  • PIMCO
  • Sprott

Thought Leadership

 

  • Panelist, “Chief Compliance Officers Working Group Webinar: Priorities for the New SEC Regime: ESG, SPACs, Cybersecurity and More” American Investment Council (June 2021)
  • “SEC Issues Alert on Compliance Risks Related to COVID-19,” Latham & Watkins Article (August 2020)
  • “SEC Flags Deficiencies in Private Fund Adviser Compliance,” Latham & Watkins Client Alert (July 2020)
  • “Alternative Data: Regulatory and Ethical Issues for Financial Services Firms to Consider,” Latham & Watkins Client Alert (March 2020)
  • “SEC Extends Relief From MiFID II Research Unbundling Provisions,” Latham & Watkins Client Alert (November 2019)
  • “What Institutional Broker-Dealers Need to Know About Regulation BI,” Latham & Watkins Client Alert (July 2019)
  • Panelist, “Chief Compliance Officers Working Group Meeting: SEC Exams Update, Auditor Independence, ILPA Policy Challenges” American Investment Council (June 2019)

Bar Qualification

  • Illinois

Education

  • JD, University of Michigan Law School, 2009
  • BA, Dartmouth College, 2004

Practices

Industries