Vedder Price Expands Private Fund Formation Group
Vedder Price is pleased to announce that the firm’s Private Fund Formation group is expanding through the elevation of a new shareholder and the addition of two new associates. This growth will enhance the depth and geographic scope of the group, which represents private fund sponsors and investors around the world in the formation of private investment funds and related regulatory and compliance matters.
Jeff VonDruska, a member of the group based in the firm’s Chicago office, has been elevated to Shareholder. Mr. VonDruska represents investment advisers, family offices, private equity funds and hedge funds in a range of fund formation, governance and compliance matters. He also counsels clients with respect to examinations and investigations conducted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, U.S. Department of Labor and other regulators. Prior to joining Vedder Price as an associate in 2016, Mr. VonDruska worked as counsel for a large fund of hedge funds adviser, focusing primarily on the legal due diligence aspect of the firm’s investment program and with responsibility over numerous regulatory compliance matters.
Mr. VonDruska joins fellow Private Fund Formation group member Cody J. Vitello who was elevated to Shareholder last year. Mr. Vitello focuses his practice on private equity, venture capital and real asset fund formation. He has particular expertise in launching complex fund of one vehicles and joint ventures with large institutional investors.
In addition to Mr. VonDruska’s elevation, the Private Fund Formation group is also adding two new associates in the firm’s office in New York City, Laure Sguario and Rachel Behar. These additions complement the group’s other resources which are spread across the firm’s offices in London, Chicago, Washington D.C. and San Francisco.
Ms. Sguario is an experienced private funds attorney who has assisted with the launch of numerous private funds both domestically and in the European Union. She frequently advises clients regarding regulatory and compliance issues under European and Luxembourgish securities and investment funds laws, and is fluent in French. With continued regulatory changes in Europe we are particularly excited to add resources to help our clients liaise with offshore counsel to navigate foreign offering issues.
Ms. Behar adds to our fund formation team by bringing day-to-day investment advisory and private fund regulatory and formation experience. At her prior firm, where she served as an investment management attorney, she frequently counseled hedge fund and private equity fund clients on regulatory matters, and regularly advised clients on responding to SEC examinations and subpoenas. In addition to fund formation, Ms. Behar has counseled institutional clients on investment due diligence. She also is an additional resource for the firm’s regulatory filing team.
“I am very pleased to welcome Laure and Rachel to Vedder Price and congratulate Jeff on being elected Shareholder,” said Joseph M. Mannon, Chair of the Private Fund Formation group. “This expansion reflects both the increasing demand from our clients for high-quality legal services and their confidence in our ability to help them successfully meet their legal goals. I look forward to the strengthened client relationships this growth will facilitate.”
To learn more about the firm’s Private Fund Formation group, please click here.
Vedder Thinking | News Vedder Price Expands Private Fund Formation Group
Press Release
April 28, 2021
Vedder Price is pleased to announce that the firm’s Private Fund Formation group is expanding through the elevation of a new shareholder and the addition of two new associates. This growth will enhance the depth and geographic scope of the group, which represents private fund sponsors and investors around the world in the formation of private investment funds and related regulatory and compliance matters.
Jeff VonDruska, a member of the group based in the firm’s Chicago office, has been elevated to Shareholder. Mr. VonDruska represents investment advisers, family offices, private equity funds and hedge funds in a range of fund formation, governance and compliance matters. He also counsels clients with respect to examinations and investigations conducted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, U.S. Department of Labor and other regulators. Prior to joining Vedder Price as an associate in 2016, Mr. VonDruska worked as counsel for a large fund of hedge funds adviser, focusing primarily on the legal due diligence aspect of the firm’s investment program and with responsibility over numerous regulatory compliance matters.
Mr. VonDruska joins fellow Private Fund Formation group member Cody J. Vitello who was elevated to Shareholder last year. Mr. Vitello focuses his practice on private equity, venture capital and real asset fund formation. He has particular expertise in launching complex fund of one vehicles and joint ventures with large institutional investors.
In addition to Mr. VonDruska’s elevation, the Private Fund Formation group is also adding two new associates in the firm’s office in New York City, Laure Sguario and Rachel Behar. These additions complement the group’s other resources which are spread across the firm’s offices in London, Chicago, Washington D.C. and San Francisco.
Ms. Sguario is an experienced private funds attorney who has assisted with the launch of numerous private funds both domestically and in the European Union. She frequently advises clients regarding regulatory and compliance issues under European and Luxembourgish securities and investment funds laws, and is fluent in French. With continued regulatory changes in Europe we are particularly excited to add resources to help our clients liaise with offshore counsel to navigate foreign offering issues.
Ms. Behar adds to our fund formation team by bringing day-to-day investment advisory and private fund regulatory and formation experience. At her prior firm, where she served as an investment management attorney, she frequently counseled hedge fund and private equity fund clients on regulatory matters, and regularly advised clients on responding to SEC examinations and subpoenas. In addition to fund formation, Ms. Behar has counseled institutional clients on investment due diligence. She also is an additional resource for the firm’s regulatory filing team.
“I am very pleased to welcome Laure and Rachel to Vedder Price and congratulate Jeff on being elected Shareholder,” said Joseph M. Mannon, Chair of the Private Fund Formation group. “This expansion reflects both the increasing demand from our clients for high-quality legal services and their confidence in our ability to help them successfully meet their legal goals. I look forward to the strengthened client relationships this growth will facilitate.”
To learn more about the firm’s Private Fund Formation group, please click here.