Ropes & Gray Grows Financial Regulation Team in London with Addition of Eve Ellis

Ropes & Gray today announced that Eve Ellis, an experienced regulatory lawyer with a focus on fund formation, will join in London as a partner in the firm’s asset management practice. Our global practice, comprised of more than 250 of the industry’s most skilled attorneys, advises clients on a full array of complex asset management questions in Europe, Asia and North America.

Ms. Ellis’s experience complements the firm’s international capabilities. She counsels on a broad range of regulatory issues relating to funds and asset managers, including fund structuring, the marketing of financial products and the establishment of regulated businesses. 

She also advises on change of control applications in the context of M&A and restructuring transactions, the interpretation of the FCA and related rules such as MiFID II, including in relation to client money, outsourcing, anti-money laundering, capital requirements, controllers, remuneration, approved persons and authorization requirements. Ms. Ellis was named by Who’s Who Legal in its Private Funds: Regulatory category in 2018.

“Asset managers seeking to start operations, launch funds or make investments in Europe have a need for sophisticated regulatory advice,” said Bryan Chegwidden, head of Ropes & Gray’s asset management group. “Eve’s addition will further strengthen our capability to offer our asset management clients comprehensive regulatory counseling and insight into U.K. and E.U. regulatory developments and issues.”

With extensive experience on both the sponsor and the investor side, Ropes & Gray’s multi-disciplinary, global asset management team offers advice and tailored solutions to asset managers and investors across all parts of their business lifecycle. An acknowledged market leader in the industry, Ropes & Gray is the only firm ranked nationally by Chambers USA 2018 in the top three bands for each of private investment funds, hedge funds and registered funds, in addition to receiving the Chambers USA 2017 Investment Funds Client Service Award. The firm is also ranked in the Legal 500 UK, Chambers Global, Chambers UK and Chambers Asia for fund formation.

“Eve’s regulatory experience will be highly valued by our asset management clients, who are increasingly seeking U.K. and E.U. regulatory advice relating to AIFMD and MiFID II,” said Mike Goetz, co-managing partner of Ropes & Gray’s London office. “I’m delighted to welcome her to the firm.”

Including Ms. Ellis, Ropes & Gray will have 24 partners in London, 42% of whom are women.

Ms. Ellis joins Ropes & Gray from O’Melveny & Myers in London, where she was a partner.