Los Angeles, CA. Nixon Peabody is pleased to announce that Richard Shamos has joined the firm’s Corporate practice as counsel, expanding the Global 100 law firm’s fund formation presence on the West Coast.
Focusing on private investment products and fund formation, Richard’s practice covers both closed-end and open-end funds targeting diverse asset classes, including private equity, venture capital, real estate, hedge funds, and specialty finance. Based in Nixon Peabody’s Los Angeles office, Richard has a deep understanding of the legal, regulatory, and operational issues facing private investment funds and publicly traded investment vehicles.
“As we continue to grow our firm’s Corporate practice in California, fund formation has been a focus for us for some time,” said Christopher Keefe, leader of Nixon Peabody’s Corporate practice. “Richard is an entrepreneurial and experienced attorney with a deep understanding of all types of asset classes, and his focus area will be an excellent fit with our Private Equity & Investment Funds, Emerging Companies, and M&A and Corporate Transactions groups.”
In addition to having a detailed understanding of technical issues and regulatory requirements, Richard has a unique ability to break down complex legal issues into actionable business items in order to drive clients’ goals across the finish line. As a result of his international and private funds experience, Richard is particularly skilled at tax structuring, regularly advising real estate and other clients on cross-border fund structures and tax optimization strategies. He also has experience working with European legal regimes, including Undertakings for the Collective Investment in Transferable Securities (UCITS) and alternative investment funds (AIFs).
Richard has counseled investment advisers and financial services firms on a range of transactions such as fund mergers and restructurings, securities offerings, corporate acquisitions, and asset-backed securitizations.
“I look forward to working with the team to expand our private equity relationships and to support a larger transactional practice covering both fund formation as well as mergers and acquisitions,” said Richard. “Nixon Peabody’s platform provides the best of both worlds—the ability to build deep institutional relationships nationally and the opportunity to focus on key regional markets in California, including venture capital, private equity, and real estate.”
Richard is a member of the board of trustees at the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music. In addition, he has been involved with a number of international organizations, including the International Bar Association, the American Council on Germany, the Association of the Luxembourg Fund Industry, and Irish Funds. Outside the office, he has been involved with social justice organizations such as Equal Justice Works, the Lawfare Project, and the Anti-Defamation League. Richard earned his J.D. from Columbia Law School and his B.A., cum laude, from Vassar College.
