Vanessa Walters is a financial services regulatory partner in the London office of Kirkland & Ellis International LLP. Vanessa has experience advising the investment management sector focusing on UK and EU financial regulation and fund matters, including in relation to the UK Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, the rules and guidance of the UK Financial Conduct Authority as well as EU financial services legislation including MiFID and AIFMD.
Vanessa also has extensive experience in the private banking sector advising on regulated lending including mortgage regulation and consumer credit legislation.
Experience
Representative Matters
Since joining Kirkland, Vanessa has worked on the following matters:
Ares-backed Automated Industrial Robotics in its acquisition of Sewtec Automation, an industrial automation company, from Endless
Chorus Capital on the close of Fund V at $2.5 billion
Parthenon Capital Partners and its portfolio company Institutional Cash Distributors, LLC (ICD) on ICD’s sale to Tradeweb Markets for $785 million
Clayton, Dubilier & Rice on the $7 billion take-private acquisition of Focus Financial Partners
Prior to joining Kirkland, Vanessa worked on the following matters:
Advising on the application of the UK Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 and related legislation, the rules and guidance of the UK Financial Conduct Authority and EU financial services legislation including MiFID, AIFMD and MAR
Advising on the establishment and marketing of funds under the AIFMD
Advising UK and overseas firms wishing to provide investment and banking services in the UK
Advising MiFID investment firms on the new MiFIDPRU prudential regime and remuneration code
Advising on M&A and private equity transactions involving regulated financial services firms
Advising clients on the impact of UK and EU regulatory requirements: issues arising from conduct of business requirements including client documentation and disclosures, financial promotions, anti-money laundering, suitability and distribution
Advising on UK regulated lending legislation including advice on the structuring of lending facilities consistently with the application of regulation in the area of consumer credit and mortgages as well as advice on the offering of forbearance and payment deferrals during CoVID-19
Advising banks on a regulatory review of credit documentation
Advising banks in relation to structuring and documentation of bank account services and deposit facilities and on the impact of MiFID II and the Payment Services Directive
Advising start-up innovative Fintech platforms on their regulatory requirements, assisting in obtaining the regulatory permissions required and drafting their client documentation
Prior Experience
Associate, Ropes and Gray LL, 2021–2023
Associate/Senior Associate, Charles Russell Speechlys LLP, 2011–2021
Sidley Austin LLP
Associate, 2009–2011
Trainee, 2007–2009
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Credentials
Admissions & Qualifications
2009, Admitted to practice as a Solicitor of England and Wales
Languages
English
French
Education
BPP Law SchoolLPCwith Distinction2006
Warwick UniversityB.A., French and Historywith Honours2004
