Eliot D. Raffkind maintains an active practice in the representation of investment advisors, including advisors to domestic and offshore hedge funds and other private investment funds, in connection with fund formations and portfolio investing activities. Mr. Raffkind's recent representative engagements in the investment advisory area include the following:
- sale of an interest in a hedge fund management company to a third-party investor
- formation of domestic and offshore investment funds and related negotiations of a seed capital investment
- formation of private investment funds focusing on investments in the Sunbelt region
- formation of domestic and offshore funds focused on investments in securities of distressed companies
- formation of investment fund focused on investments in the energy industry
- formation of domestic and offshore funds investing in international securities and related registration of the investment manager as a commodity pool operator with the CFTC
- formation of a private investment fund focused on minority enterprises
- formation of a private investment fund focused on companies engaged in the communications industry
- formation of an offshore investment fund to invest in distressed debt securities in emerging market countries
- representation of the sponsor of a start-up hedge fund in connection with the formation of the fund and the negotiations with the person hired to manage the fund
- formation of domestic and offshore hedge funds incorporating a protection of principal feature
- formation of domestic and offshore hedge funds incorporating an enhanced leverage feature
- representation of a registered investment advisor in connection with a $25 million managed account with a university endowment
- modifications to soft-dollar disclosure in offering documents in light of SEC developments
- preparation of personal trading policy for state-registered investment advisor
- formation of domestic and offshore hedge funds focused on technology securities
- formation of "fund of funds" investing in LBO funds
- formation of domestic investment fund focused on short selling
- formation of domestic and offshore currency trading funds
- formation of domestic fund focused on derivatives
- amendments to domestic and offshore fund documents for hedge fund advisor with $1.5 billion in capital under management
- formation of "fund of funds" investment fund for start-up manager
- formation of domestic and offshore funds to invest primarily in treasury securities of emerging market countries
- acquisition of the assets of an investment advisory firm and related registration of the client as an investment advisor
- formation of domestic investment fund focusing on investments in China.
Mr. Raffkind received his B.B.A. in finance with high honors in 1983 and his J.D. with honors in 1986 from the University of Texas, where he served as a teaching quizmaster from 1985 to 1986. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas.
Mr. Raffkind has been recogized in 2010 by Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business in the area of hedge funds.
Mr. Raffkind is a frequent speaker before investment fund trade groups on issues affecting hedge funds and other private equity funds. He serves on the board of directors of the Texas Hedge Fund Association, Capital for Kids, Jonathan's Place (currently serving as immediate Past President), on the Corporate Counsel of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas, and on the Investment Committee of Akin Gump Investment Partners, LP, the private investment fund formed by Akin Gump.