Overview

Richard is a partner in Kirkland's Investment Funds Group based in Los Angeles. As part of the fund formation practice at Kirkland, Richard advises U.S. and non-U.S. companies on the structuring of investment products across a diverse array of asset classes, domestic and international securities law issues, and tax planning. In addition, Richard advises fund sponsors and their investors on complex transactions in fund interests and management entities, including sponsor-led secondaries, fund mergers and restructurings, corporate acquisitions and management buyout transactions.

Richard's fund formation practice covers both closed-end and open-end fund products in a variety of liquid and illiquid asset classes, including private equity, venture capital, real estate, hedge funds, and specialty finance vehicles. Richard has extensive experience with the operation and design of U.S. partnership vehicles, European registered and alternative investment funds, and offshore fund vehicles, including Luxembourg, Irish, Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands, Hong Kong, and Singapore-based companies. In addition, Richard regularly advises clients on tax structuring with complex asset classes, cross-border fund structures and tax optimization strategies.

With over a decade of experience in corporate and investment matters, Richard has advised on the launch of investment funds ranging from the tens of millions to billions of dollars, as well as transactions in multi-billion dollar investment products, including sponsor-led secondaries, fund mergers and spin-offs, and continuation fund transactions. In addition, Richard advises clients on management structuring and operations, fiduciary best practices, and fund distribution in the United States, Europe, Latin American, Asia and the Middle East.

Representative clients include Andreessen Horowitz, Bracket Capital, BroadLight Capital, Francisco Partners, Gallatin Point Capital, HGGC, Ion Pacific Capital, Paine Schwartz, Pathlight Capital, Related Fund Management, Reverence Capital Partners, Tomales Bay Capital, Vance Street Capital.

More

Thought Leadership

Speaking Engagements

Presenter, “Private Equity and Venture Capital Committee Meeting,” American Bar Association's Business Law Section Virtual Spring Meeting, April 19, 2021

Moderator, “LP Investing in a Covid-19 Environment: What Was, How the LP Mindset Has Shifted, and Post-Election 2021 Outlook,” OpusConnect Conference, Webinar, November 19, 2020

Presenter, “Vertrieb von Schweizer- und EU-Fonds in den USA,” Europa Institut’s Seminar—Aktuelles zum Kollektivanlagenrecht VI, University of Zurich, May 8, 2019

Speaker, IMN Op Zone Conference, New York, March 12, 2019

Speaker, “The Roadmap to Launching Alternative Funds in Europe,” BNY/AIMA Webinar, February 21, 2019

Speaker, “European Funds” MFA / BNY Panel, New York, October 4, 2018

Speaker, UCITS/AIFMD Conference, New York, March 14–15, 2018

Presenter, “U.S. Managers: How to Access Capital and Market Funds in Europe,” HFM & LRI, Group Workshop, New York, October 5, 2017

Publications

“The Application of U.S. Anti-Boycott Laws: From the Arab League to Ireland,” IBA Business Law International Journal, Vol. 20, No. 3, September 2019

“Investing in Private Equity under the Opportunity Zones Program,” OZ Expo Magazine, May 6, 2019

Quoted, “Huge Buzz, Big Unknowns for Funds Sparked by New Tax Law,” Fundfire, October 17, 2018

“Marketing in the US for European and Asian Managers,” Hedgeweek, October 19, 2017

“ESMA Opinion Resolves Inconsistent U.S. and European Asset Segregation Models, Thereby Facilitating Cross-Border Transactions by European Funds,” Hedge Fund Law Report, September 7, 2017

Co-Author, “Learning The Lessons of Platinum Partners,” Modern Trader Magazine, May 30, 2017

Recognition

New York Metro Rising Stars, Super Lawyers, 2018–2020

Top Influencers, Top Attorneys, OZ Magazine, 2020

Credentials

Admissions & Qualifications

  • 2021California
  • 2010New York

Languages

  • English
  • German
  • Spanish

Education

  • Columbia Law SchoolJ.D.2009

    Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar

    Columbia Business Law Review

    Director, Public Interest Law Foundation

  • Vassar CollegeB.A., International Studies cum laude generali2003