Mayer Brown's Investment Management practice enjoys international prominence in the areas of finance, securities, securitization, mergers and acquisitions, general corporate work and litigation. More than 200 lawyers specialize in these practice areas. Our banking and corporate finance clients currently include 25 of the world's largest 100 banks, a large number of securities issuers active around the world, and investment banks active internationally.

One of our most significant practice areas is the Investment Management Practice comprising partners, counsel and associates who are highly experienced in servicing specialized client needs. They counsel clients in the design, distribution, marketing, and management of numerous types of investment products, including mutual funds, closed-end funds, fixed and variable insurance products, hedge funds, offshore and other private investment funds, wrap fee and mutual fund asset allocation programs, unit investment trusts, collective investment funds, group trusts, commodity pools, venture capital funds and business development companies.

We provide legal and compliance assistance to major securities firms, mutual fund groups and other investment companies, investment advisers, fund boards of directors including their independent directors, banks and other fund service providers. We are a market leader in advising these clients with respect to all aspects of their organizational, funding, marketing, operational and regulatory compliance responsibilities.

In addition, the Investment Management Practice advises clients on, among other things, investment company, broker-dealer, investment adviser and transfer agent status questions, under federal and state securities laws, that frequently arise in connection with corporate financing and reorganization transactions or the establishment of securities distribution and referral programs.

The Investment Management Practice draws upon the resources of Mayer Brown's various practice areas to form an integrated practice, comprising corporate, securities, securitization, commodities, derivatives, broker-dealer, investment company, investment adviser, real estate investment trust, ERISA, tax, banking, insurance and litigation lawyers. Our lawyers are able to provide clients with the full range of legal services necessary to compete effectively in today's financial services industry.

Mayer Brown's Investment Management Practice provides legal and compliance assistance to major securities firms, mutual fund groups and other investment companies, investment managers, members of mutual fund boards of directors, banks and other regulated financial institutions, distributors, third-party administrators and other investment company service providers.

The Investment Management Practice has extensive experience in advising clients on issues of investment adviser and broker-dealer regulation. Advice often focuses on investment adviser and broker-dealer status questions, organizing and registering investment advisers and broker-dealers, and resolving on-going investment adviser and broker-dealer compliance issues.

Mayer Brown's Investment Management Practice provides legal and compliance assistance to insurance companies, employee benefit plans, banks and other regulated financial institutions, broker-dealers, insurance agencies and other financial service providers seeking to issue, sell and/or invest in fixed and variable life insurance and annuity products, including guaranteed investment contracts (GICs) and bank investment contracts (BICs).