Overview

Pamela Chen embodies Kirkland’s ‘can do’ ethos. Knowledgeable but practical as well in helping clients achieve their business objectives. - The Legal 500 United States, 2024

Pamela Chen is an investment funds partner in the New York office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. Chambers USA reports that clients say their experience working with her “has been outstanding. She is incredibly responsive and attentive.”

Pamela represents registered open-end and closed-end funds, interval funds, tender offer funds and business development companies (BDCs), and their investment advisers, sponsors and independent board members. She advises on the structuring, formation and operations of a range of registered alternative products, including registered funds of private funds, manager of manager funds and liquid alternatives. Pamela also provides counsel to funds and investment advisers on matters arising under the federal securities laws, regulatory compliance, and a broad range of transactions involving funds and advisory organizations.

Most recently, she served as in-house counsel responsible for all legal matters arising out of the U.S. retail business of a large asset management firm. There, she was responsible for the structuring and formation of the firm’s first interval funds. She also advised on the firm’s strategic vision for new retail investment vehicles and investment strategies (including alternative, sustainable and ESG products).

Pamela is a frequent speaker at conferences and events in the asset management industry, including those hosted by the Investment Company Institute and the Mutual Fund Directors Forum.

Pamela’s representative clients include Ares, Brigade, Fortress, Lord Abbett, Oppenheimer, TCW and 5C Investment Partners. She also represented Engine No. 1 in the sale of its ETF business to The TCW Group.

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Thought Leadership

Speaking Engagements

Panelist, “SEC Regulatory Outlook: Rulemaking Priorities, Exams and ESG,” ICI’s 2024 Leadership Summit, May 23, 2024

Speaker, “Product Innovation,” 2024 Fund Governance and Regulatory Insights Conference, Mutual Fund Directors Forum, March 7, 2024

Moderator, “Look Ahead at 2024 and Beyond,” Women’s Investment Management Forum, February 29, 2024

Speaker, “Private Equity’s Effort to Reach Retail Investors: What It Takes and How It May Shape the Industry,” With Intelligence Pension Bridge Private Equity Exclusive, July 24, 2023

Speaker, “Insights on SEC Priorities and Rulemaking from Former Senior SEC Staff Members at Kirkland & Ellis,” Investment Company Institute Leadership Summit, May 25, 2023

Seminars

Speaker, “Unlocking the Retail Market: RIC Taxation 101,” Kirkland & Ellis Webinar Series, February 2024

Speaker, “Unlocking the Retail Market: The Value Proposition of a Real Estate Access Fund,” Kirkland & Ellis Webinar Series, December 2023

Publications

Co-Author, “Practical Considerations Under the Names Rule for Registered Funds,” Investment Adviser Association, May 2024

Co-Author, “SEC Adopts Amendments to Expand the Scope of the ‘Names Rule,’” Kirkland Alert, October 2023

Co-Author, “SEC Proposes Reworking Mutual Fund Liquidity Framework, including Mandating Swing Pricing,” Kirkland Alert, December 2022

Co-Author, “SEC Adopts Amendments to Streamline Shareholder Reports and Update Advertising Rules for Investment Companies,” Kirkland Alert, November 2022

Recognition

Chambers USA, Nationwide: Investment Funds: Registered Funds, 2024

The Legal 500 United States, Mutual/Registered Funds/Exchange-Traded Funds, 2024

Credentials

Admissions & Qualifications

  • New York

Languages

  • English
  • Mandarin
  • Taiwanese

Education

  • Georgetown University Law CenterJ.D.
  • Case Western Reserve UniversityB.A.magna cum laude