Laura N. Ferrell is a partner in the Corporate Department and a member of the Investment Funds Practice and Financial Institutions Industry Group.

Laura advises a broad cross-section of the asset management industry on a variety of complex legal, regulatory, and compliance matters. In addition to advising leading global financial services institutions, Laura represents a variety of public and private investment vehicles including:

  • Private equity funds
  • Private credit funds
  • Hedge funds
  • Business development companies (BDCs)
  • Robo-advisors
  • Alternative investment funds
  • Open- and closed-end mutual funds
  • Structured products

Laura advises clients on cutting-edge legal, regulatory, and compliance matters in connection with:

  • SEC examinations, investigations, and enforcement proceedings
  • The formation of investment funds and the structuring and development of new investment products
  • The acquisition and sale of registered investment advisers
  • The registration of private equity sponsors and other investment advisers under the Advisers Act and related regulatory and reporting matters
  • Investment adviser status analysis under the Advisers Act and related regulatory and compliance considerations
  • Capital markets, financing, and restructuring transactions involving asset managers and investment funds
  • Investment company status issues arising under the 1940 Act and related regulatory and compliance matters
  • Seeking and obtaining exemptive and no-action relief from the SEC

Laura's representative clients include:

  • Ares Management and Ares Capital Corporation
  • BlackRock
  • Blue Owl
  • Carousel
  • The Carlyle Group
  • Credit Suisse
  • Energy Capital Partners
  • GCM Grosvenor
  • Global Infrastructure Partners
  • GTCR
  • Ivy Hill Asset Management
  • J.P. Morgan
  • Lindsay Goldberg
  • LionTree
  • Orion Infrastructure Capital
  • Onex Corporation
  • PIMCO
  • Reddit
  • Searchlight Capital
  • Sprott
  • Stepstone

Thought Leadership

  • “SEC Adopts Changes to Names Rule for Registered Funds,” Latham & Watkins Client Alert (October 2023)
  • “SEC Adopts Significant Rule Changes for Private Fund Advisers,” Latham & Watkins Client Alert (August 2023)
  • “SEC Proposes New Rules Targeting Use Predictive Data Analytics by Investment Advisers and Broker-Dealers,” Latham & Watkins Client Alert (July 2023)
  • “Form N-PX 'Say on Pay' Disclosure Requirement for 13F Filers Will Become Effective July 1, 2024,” Latham & Watkins Article (June 2023)
  • “SEC Adopts Changes to Form PF for Private Equity and Large Hedge Fund Advisers,” Latham & Watkins Client Alert (May 2023)
  • “SEC Proposes ESG Disclosure Requirements for Investment Advisers and Investment Companies,” Latham & Watkins Client Alert (May 2022)
  • “Analysis: SEC’s Proposed Cyber Rules for RIAs, RICs, and BDCs,” Latham & Watkins Client Alert (May 2022)

Bar Qualification

  • Illinois

Education

  • JD, University of Michigan Law School, 2009
  • BA, Dartmouth College, 2004

Practices

Industries