With decades of experience in the private fund industry, Osler provides comprehensive advice to sponsors working to structure and establish funds, as well as to institutional and other investors investing into those funds.
Osler has extensive experience advising on private fund formation and structure, with a deep understanding of how to create effective tax-efficient fund structures. Our firm has developed innovative fund structures to bring institutional-grade private equity, private debt and real estate asset classes to the Canadian high net worth investor and mass affluent investor groups. Our team of experts has worked closely with the managers of leading Canadian funds on their formation activities, across funds of all types and industry focus, including private equity funds, hedge funds, real estate funds, infrastructure funds, debt funds, venture capital funds and other pooled investment vehicles involving conventional and alternative asset classes.
In addition, Osler has a wealth of experience with other investment structures, such as funds of funds, funds of one, separate managed accounts, and co-investment funds. Our lawyers routinely advise on co-investment structures using special purpose limited partnerships to allow fund investors to participate directly in portfolio investments, alongside the funds to which they have made capital commitments. Our experience also includes providing securities advice regarding the distribution of private funds being sold into Canada by international sponsors, advice regarding sales of private fund interests on a secondary basis, and assistance to fund clients who are establishing credit facilities.
In addition to representing sponsors, Osler regularly advises institutional and other investors on their private fund investment activities, including notably several of Canada’s largest pension plan investors, across all asset classes and fund types. Strong deal flow and regular access to both leading investors and fund managers keeps us at the forefront of industry and market practice, including with respect to issues such as fund structure, general partner/limited partner terms, general partner compensation, governance arrangements, and amount and structuring of carried interest entitlements.
Our Private Funds practice is supported by an integrated team of subject matter experts across several practice areas, including Tax, Private Equity, Pensions and Mergers and Acquisitions. With deep expertise and experience in all aspects of private fund investment and structuring, our clients are provided with meaningful insight and perspective regarding developing trends across the broader private fund industry.