Investment Funds

/Overview

We provide sophisticated guidance to clients on everything from fund formation, growth investments, tax planning, management company transactions, and regulatory and compliance issues. In all these areas and more, we closely advise specialty funds and managers.

Our deep knowledge of the middle market allows us to work across a range of asset classes, business sectors, and geographies. Clients seeking responsive, partner-level attention with a distinct advantage in cost-efficient service can turn confidently to NP’s Investment Funds team.

Institutional investors

We provide a full suite of services, ranging from private investments in new funds to secondary purchases or sales of existing fund investment portfolios, advising major institutional investors in connection with their fund investments. These clients include funds of funds, public pension systems, endowments, foundations, and family offices. 

We also represent venture capital firms and emerging companies through corporate formation, equity investments, and commercial growth. 

With a deep knowledge of your business goals and an unwavering commitment to your success, NP’s leading investor-side practice is ready to navigate any challenge and position you favorably for the future.

Fund formation

Private investment funds raise a number of critical legal issues that must be addressed throughout the fundraising process, from launch through final closing.

We help design funds that meet the legal, regulatory, and tax needs of your investors, giving you the freedom to pursue your strategy. We’ll be by your side as you seize opportunities, manage risk, and get results.

Nixon Peabody has experience representing all types of fund sponsors, including:

• Buyout funds
• Debt funds
• Energy funds
• Fund of funds
• Hedge funds
• Real estate funds
• Secondary funds
• Specialty funds
• Venture funds

/Representative experience

• Thurston Advisors, LLC—Represented a leading investor in healthcare and business services companies on the formation of its latest fund, Thurston Fund II, LP, and Thurston Fund II (QP).
• Amica Insurance Company—Represented an insurance company in connection with their investments in leveraged buyout, venture capital, real estate, and private credit funds.
• GCM Customized Funds Investment Group LP—Represented an investment firm and fund-of-funds sponsor in connection with investments in numerous private equity, venture capital, infrastructure, private credit, and real estate funds. Counseled client on the organization and offering of private equity funds to various institutional and high-net-worth investors.
• State of New Jersey, Department of the Treasury—Represented public pension plans in connection with their investments in private equity, venture capital, real estate, and private credit funds, separately managed accounts, and significant secondary sales transactions.
• Northleaf Capital Partners—Represented a global private markets investment firm in forming fund-of-funds products, making investments in private equity funds, and as the buyer in various secondary sale transactions.
• Howard Hughes Medical Institute—Represented a biomedical research organization in connection with investments in private equity funds.
• Performance Equity Management—Represented a private-equity firm in forming fund-of-funds products and administering investments in private-equity funds, and in numerous private company investment transactions.
• Top Tier Capital Partners—Represented a fund-of-funds manager with its investments in investment partnerships, and several secondary purchases.
• JM Family Enterprises—Represented an institutional investor in connection with its investments in leveraged buyout, venture capital, real estate, and debt private equity funds.
• Entertainment-focused fund—Advised an investment manager in the formation of an entertainment-focused private equity fund with $200 million of assets under management.

/Recognition

• Nixon Peabody has been named a “Tier 1 National firm for Venture Capital Law” in the 2025 edition of Best Law Firms®.
• Ranked in Chambers USA for Corporate/Commercial in New Hampshire, for Corporate/M&A in Massachusetts and Upstate New York, and nationally for Startups & Emerging Companies.
• Over half of our corporate partners and counsel were recognized by Chambers, Legal 500, and The Best Lawyers in America© 2022–2024 as leading attorneys in the field.
• Attorneys recognized as leaders in their field nationwide for Investment Funds: Investor Representation and in Massachusetts for Private Equity: Fund Formation by Chambers USA 2021.