Peter J. Bilfield
Peter J. Bilfield, co-chair of the Investment Management and Private Funds group, counsels emerging to established investment managers and private investment funds in investment management and corporate and securities matters. He organizes domestic and offshore private investment funds as single entity, parallel or "master-feeder" structures. Peter also works extensively with non-U.S. investment firms located throughout Europe, Asia and Australia on U.S. securities and regulatory matters. He provides ongoing regulatory, securities, commodities and general corporate advice to investment advisers and their affiliates.
With respect to investor-side representations, Peter assists institutional investors, including pension plans, with conducting reviews and negotiating the terms of their investments. He also represents seed investors in negotiating and structuring seed investments with emerging managers.
Peter's corporate and securities representation focuses on the "middle markets" and assisting issuers with securities offerings, including mergers and acquisitions, and general corporate governance.
Clients seek Peter out for his seasoned, rational and succinct legal advice, as well as his passionate and thoughtful representation. They appreciate his distinct ability to understand their goals and how they interplay with all the parties involved, including investors, regulators, auditors, administrators, employees and non-U.S. counsel.
Peter has been quoted in the print media on issues confronting private fund managers and has been a contributor to articles published in the Hedge Fund Law Report and other periodicals. He is on the advisory board of the Connecticut Hedge Fund Association and the Securities Advisory Council of the Connecticut Banking Department.
Represented a fund manager in the acquisition of a privately held Swiss cycle apparel manufacturer in a private equity fund led syndicate through the formation of a Luxembourg SARL, a wholly owned subsidiary of a Cayman Islands exempted limited partnership
Represented a Melbourne, Australia-based private equity fund manager in connection with the formation of a Cayman Islands domiciled private equity fund investing primarily in natural resource and mining companies; advised client on the negotiation of side letter agreements with a U.S.-based fund of funds investor group and other U.S. institutional investors
Represent a fund manager in connection with the formation of two structured credit funds organized as “mini-master” funds and investing principally in ABS, RMBS, CMBS and CDO securities
Represented a family office in its investment in a limited partnership series of an insurance dedicated fund and a number of transactions involving a German-based financial institution, as lender; AIG, as investor in the fund; and a West Coast-based investment manager to the series, including the negotiation of a participation agreement, restructuring an existing loan facility, transferring a portfolio of private investment fund interests and negotiating the terms of an investment sub-advisory agreement with the investment manager
Represent a “spin-off” private equity fund of funds from Australia-based financial services firm in connection with the formation of their third private equity fund organized in a master feeder structure primarily focused on investments in funds located in the Asia Pacific Region, through secondary transactions or direct investments in portfolio companies
Represent a Sydney, Australia-based investment manager in connection with the launch of a hedge fund organized as a Cayman Islands segregated portfolio company along with the periodic launch of several portfolios, and a U.S. feeder fund
Represent institutional investors including a Paris, France-based seed fund and a Connecticut-based insurance company in ongoing investments with U.S. and non-U.S. private equity and hedge fund managers, including the negotiation of side letter agreements and due diligence reviews of offering documents
Represented a NYC-based private asset manager in negotiations of the terms of a "rescue financing" in the amount of $100 million by strategic investors, including advising the client on existing repurchase agreements with lender counterparties; negotiated the terms of the strategic investor group's investment, including negotiating the terms of side letters and prepared amendments to the existing offering documents of the onshore fund and offshore fund to establish a new share class; providing tax and structuring advice; and working closely with Cayman Islands counsel on international aspects to ensure the funds and its affiliates complied with all applicable Cayman Islands laws
Selected to the list of Connecticut Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters), Securities & Corporate Finance, 2018-2019
Selected to the list of Connecticut Super Lawyers Rising Stars (Thomson Reuters), Business/Corporate, 2013
Recipient of the Heyman Fellowship in Corporate Governance
Named Rainmaker of the Year by Originate!, September 2008
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Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County, Board of Directors
Bet Tzedek Legal Services, German Ghetto Work Reparations Pro Bono Clinic, Volunteer