Alston & Bird LLP

Our Financial Services & Products Group is devoted to providing the sophisticated services that major financial services companies require in today’s complex marketplace.  We represent some of the largest U.S. banks, insurance companies and investment firms on a variety of regulatory and transactional matters ranging from corporate governance concerns to strategic mergers and alliances. Our practice encompasses the broad array of what might be called traditional financial services industries, as well as emerging and alternative investment products such as hedge funds, derivatives and structured finance.

As the financial services industry has grown and broadened over the last decade, our attorneys have been at the forefront of offering advice to clients in a variety of areas including:

Bank Regulatory
Derivatives
Financial Services Litigation
Alternative Investment Fund Structuring
Insurance Litigation & Regulation
Investment Products
Mergers & Acquisitions
Payment Systems
REITs & Funds
Securities

Bringing Value to Our Clients

We devote substantial time to understanding and following the business and interests of our clients and the emerging trends and developments in the financial services industry, an attribute that sets us apart from other firms and delivers value to our clients.  This client focus, coupled with our excellent level of responsiveness, has been recognized by a third-party client service study as the key tenet of the value we deliver to our clients.

Experience

• Ongoing representation of a $2 billion hedge fund family on documentation for all derivatives products, repurchase transactions and prime brokerage arrangements
  Represented a fund of funds in structuring and negotiating a $500 million total return swap based on a dynamic portfolio of hedge funds
   
• Negotiated a $200 million trading platform for synthetic positions in distressed debt on behalf of a hedge fund
   
• Negotiated a $400 million total return swap to provide levered exposure to a hedge fund
   
• Updated templates for documentation of derivatives transactions on behalf of a variety of clients
   
• Negotiated successfully with multiple dealers on behalf of a hedge fund to avoid termination of derivatives transactions due to significant net asset value decline
   
• Assisted in the development of a marketing program and marketing materials for exotic foreign exchange derivatives products
   
• Representation of an investor in a dispute regarding a highly structured principal protected hedge fund linked product
   
• Representation of a total return swap counterparty seeking recovery in connection with a synthetic position in the Bayou hedge fund
   
• Representation of a corporate borrower in a £21 million tax dispute involving a complex derivative embedded in a £95 million loan structure
   
• Assisted various alternative investment funds in understanding and participating in DTCC’s settlement process for derivatives
   
• Assisted the asset management group of a major investment bank in forming  a global macro master-feeder fund
   
• Assisted two industry leaders in the energy and environment field with the formation of a fund of funds that focuses on investments in the energy and environmental sectors
   
• Assisted a large commodity pool operator in the SEC registration of $500 million worth of units in a public commodity pool
   
• Represented several domestic and offshore Refco sponsored commodity pools with claims in excess of $100 million in the bankruptcy cases of Refco, Inc. and its affiliates
   
• Assisted an investment manager in the acquisition of the general partnership interest and controlling share of certain domestic and offshore private investment funds
   
• Assisted a U.S. fund manager in connection with the public offering of a private equity fund focused on investing in India cross-border transactions that are publicly offered on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) in the UK
   
• Represented the managed futures group of a major investment bank in connection with the formation of multi-tiered commodity pools
   
• Represented an independent investment adviser in connection with the structure and formation of a master-feeder fund and parallel 3(c)(1) vehicle
   
• Assited in the formation of a domestic index fund

Alston & Bird's approach to diversity has been one of commitment and action to establishing diversity as a basic element of the firm's culture. The pursuit of diversity is important to the firm -- not because it has become a criterion for those who hire law firms -- but rather because the firm fully embraces the value each individual brings to the firm. A diverse culture and a willingness to recognize and appreciate that diversity strengthen the firm every day. We are proud of the activities we support and the results we have achieved.

Initiatives  

• Alston & Bird has designated a senior partner with responsibility for supporting and enhancing diversity -- not just monitoring it. John Latham ([email protected] 404.881.7915) reports directly to the firm's managing partner and chairs a diversity committee comprised of attorneys and staff from all offices. The committee is responsible for implementing the firm's policy for diversity enhancement in all hiring decisions and for overseeing a work environment that embraces diversity.
• Each of our practice group leaders is held accountable by the firm's management for the diversity efforts of her or his practice group. The success or failure of these efforts directly impacts the evaluation and compensation of our practice group leaders.
• We work with Roosevelt Thomas Consulting & Training, experts in the diversity and diversity management field, to develop education programs for our attorneys and staff.
• We offer domestic partnership insurance benefits and have a longstanding policy against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
• Alston & Bird is a founding member and active in the Atlanta Large Firm Diversity Alliance and the Atlanta Legal Diversity Consortium.
• We proudly sponsor the Hispanic and Asian Bar Associations.

Awards and Commendations  

• Our workplace environment has been praised as one of the most open and receptive in the United States, not only among law firms, but also among all businesses. For the 14th consecutive year, Alston & Bird has been named to the list of FORTUNE magazine's "100 Best Companies to Work For,"® including placement in the top 25 for seven consecutive years, four of which were in the top 10. 
• In 2013, Vault Inc. ranked Alston & Bird ninth in the United States in diversity issues with respect to minorities.
• Alston & Bird has received a top rating of 100 percent from the Human Rights Campaign’s (HRC) 2012 Corporate Equality Index.  This is the eighth year in a row that Alston & Bird has received HRC’s perfect rating.
• Ben Johnson, the firm's former managing partner, received the Metro Atlanta YMCA Joseph C. Bransby Leadership Award, the highest award presented for outstanding volunteer service and recognition of exceptional leadership. Ben is also the recipient of the American Jewish Committee's Institute of Human Relations Award in recognition of his community activism and leadership in the battle against all forms of bigotry and discrimination and for his lifelong effort to promote human rights.
• The Stonewall Bar Association of Georgia has honored Alston & Bird with its "Outstanding Service to the G&L Community" award.