Alpa Patel, P.C.

Partner Investment Funds

Washington, D.C. +1 202 389 3062

Alpa Patel, P.C.

Overview

Alpa Patel is a partner in the Investment Funds Regulatory Solutions Group of Kirkland & Ellis LLP in Washington, D.C. Ms. Patel’s practice focuses on counseling U.S. and non-U.S. investment advisers and family offices on a broad range of compliance, regulatory, and legal matters affecting private funds. Widely regarded as a leading regulatory lawyer, Ms. Patel has been ranked by Chambers for years, including her 2023 selection for Band 1 in Chambers USA. She counsels some of the most complex and sophisticated asset management firms on issues related to the registration, structure, and operations of their advisory businesses and navigating complex SEC compliance examinations and enforcement investigations. She provides counsel to all types of investment advisers and their vehicles, including private equity funds, venture capital funds, credit funds, hedge funds, and real estate funds. Ms. Patel also routinely counsels private fund sponsors on strategic transactions such as minority investments and other liquidity events.

Prior to joining Kirkland, Ms. Patel served as Branch Chief of the Private Funds Branch of the Investment Adviser Regulation Office in the SEC’s Division of Investment Management in Washington, D.C. In that role, Ms. Patel helped develop various rule proposals under the Advisers Act and provided technical assistance on the interpretation and application of the Advisers Act rules to all types of registered investment advisers. As head of the Private Funds Branch in the Division of Investment Management, she was a key adviser on all private fund-related projects and priorities across the SEC. She regularly consulted with the Division of Examinations and the Division of Enforcement on interpretive matters regarding the application of the securities laws to private fund advisers, as well as market practices in the private equity and hedge fund industries. She also represented the SEC on various interagency projects with the Department of Treasury, the Federal Reserve Board, and other agencies regarding policy matters which had implications for asset managers and the private fund industry in particular.

Ms. Patel is a frequent speaker on regulatory issues related to the asset management industry.

Representative clients include:

  • Vista Equity Partners
  • GLP Capital Partners
  • Patients Square Capital
  • GTCR
  • Clearlake Capital Group
  • New Enterprise Associates
  • General Catalyst
  • Warburg Pincus
  • Arctos Partners
  • Whitehorse Liquidity Partners
  • Thrive Capital

Branch Chief, Division of Investment Management — Private Funds Branch, US Securities and Exchange Commission, 2014–2017

Senior Counsel, Division of Investment Management — Private Funds Branch, 2011–2014

Associate, Dechert LLP, 2007–2011

More

Thought Leadership

Seminars

TechGC Webinar, “Raising Capital in the New Era: Demystifying the Latest Private Fund Rules for Advisers, Registered and Non-Registered Alike” (January 2024)

Panelist, “Regulatory & Compliance,” National Venture Capital CFO Conference (November 2023, upcoming)

Kirkland & Ellis Webinar, “Implementing the SEC’s New Marketing Rule” (June 2022)

TechGC Webinar, Venture Funds Regulatory Update (May 2022) 

Kirkland & Ellis Webinar, Emerging Topics in Private Fund Examinations (July 2021)

Kirkland & Ellis Webinar, The Biden Administration: Implications for PE Regarding SEC, CFIUS, Antitrust and Tax (April 2021) 

Investment Advisers Association Compliance Conference, Private Equity Funds Update (March 2021)

Private Equity International’s Private Fund Compliance Spring Forum Virtual Experience 2021, Women's Networking Roundtable (May 2021) 

WeChat, TikTok & Messaging Applications: U.S. Regulatory Implications for Private Fund Sponsors (September 2020)

Unconventional Paths to Liquidity: Fund-Related Solutions to Existing Portfolio Companies (August 2020)

A Closer Look at the SEC’s Private Fund Examination Priorities for Private Equity Advisers (July 2020)

Developments in Private Equity Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic (May 2020)

Investment Advisers Association Compliance Workshop, Chicago (November 2019)

Speaker, Kirkland & Ellis Liquidity Solutions Academy, “SEC Scrutiny of Secondary Transactions / Fund Restructurings,” New York City, New York (November 6, 2019)

International Venture Capital Association, "How to Manage an Exam," Chicago (October 2019)

Investment Advisers Association Private Equity Group Subcommittee, "Exam Update," New York (September 2019)

American Investment Council Chief Compliance Officer Working Group, Chicago (September 2019)

Lecturer, Howard University “Private Equity and Hedge Fund Regulation” (Fall 2018)

American Investment Council General Counsels Day (November 2018)

National Society of Compliance Professionals panel on “2018 Regulatory Priorities & Best Practices” (October 2018)

American Investment Council Chief Compliance Officer Working Group (September 2018)

Women in Private Equity Network (PEWIN) Roundtable, “Straight Talk: Fee Transparency and Other SEC Hot Buttons in Private Equity" (April 2018)

IA Watch 20th Annual IA Compliance Conference: The Full 360 View East, “Meeting the Unique Compliance Challenges of the Private Fund Adviser” (March 2018)

Investment Adviser Association 2018 Compliance Conference “Advertising, Marketing Materials and Social Media” (March 2018)

National Society of Compliance Professionals Seminars on updated Form ADV Compliance (February and March 2018)

PLI Private Fund Regulatory Developments and Compliance Challenges (February 2018)

Kirkland & Ellis Seminar, “Making a Move into Credit Funds” (November 2017)

Recognition

Chambers Global, Investment Funds: Regulatory & Compliance 

Chambers USA, Investment Funds: Regulatory & Compliance 

Who’s Who Legal: Private Funds: Regulatory

Credentials

Admissions & Qualifications

  • Illinois
  • District of Columbia
  • New York

Education

  • The George Washington University Law SchoolJ.D.2007
  • Emory UniversityB.B.A., Finance2004