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Jacob M. Derr

Jacob Derr is a partner in the firm and is a member of the investment management, hedge funds, and alternative investments practice groups. He regularly represents registered investment companies, including mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and closed-end funds, as well as their boards of directors/trustees, on a broad range of transactional, regulatory and compliance matters. Jacob frequently advises these entities on fund development and formation, registration, acquisition, reorganization and termination matters and the application of the federal securities laws, including the implementation of new rules and regulations. He also represents these entities before the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on matters relating to disclosure, registration, requests for no-action relief, applications for exemptive relief, shareholder meetings, and other matters. Jacob also counsels investment advisers with respect to regulatory, compliance and reporting matters. 

In addition to working with a number of large mutual fund complexes, Jacob’s experience with the organization, registration and ongoing operation of ETFs and closed-end funds includes the use of alternative structures such as closed-end interval funds, and investments in alternative strategies and asset classes. He has advised ETFs and closed-end funds and their boards on matters related to fund structure, organization and governance, registration with the SEC, applications for exemptive relief, and ongoing operational and regulatory matters. He has particular experience in the development of operational and compliance procedures to add ETFs and closed-end funds to existing open-end mutual fund complexes. 

Jacob is active in the industry, speaking on topics such as product trends and business and legal developments with respect to registered funds.

Prior to joining the firm, Jacob was a member of the William & Mary Appellate and Supreme Court Clinic. He also was a K&L Gates summer associate in 2015.

  • Member, Virginia State Bar
  • Volunteer tutor, America Reads Challenge
  • Student volunteer, Habitat for Humanity Hampton Roads
  • Adjunct Professor of Corporations, Georgetown University Law Center L.L.M Program
Additional Thought Leadership Pages
  • Tailored Shareholder Reports,” The Investment Lawyer, January 2023
  • “Measuring Monopsony: Using the Antitrust Toolbox to Protect Market Competition,” 57 WM. & MARY L. REV. 299, 2015.
  • “Widening the Playing Field: The Comcast-Time Warner Cable Merger and Regulating New Competition,” 2015 CORNELL POL’Y REV. 59, 2015.
Additional News & Event Pages
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