Gus Black, co-chair of Dechert's global financial services group, focuses his practice on investment funds (emphasizing private equity, debt and hedge funds), establishing and restructuring international asset management businesses, corporate and commercial transactions in the asset management sector and general UK financial services regulation.
In the sphere of private fund formation, Mr. Black has advised sponsors and cornerstone investors on the structuring, re-structuring, formation and investment of numerous funds and other co-investment structures ranging widely in size, strategy and focus (including numerous hedge strategies, hybrid, private equity, public and private debt, emerging markets, clean tech/energy, agriculture, infrastructure, commodities and real estate). He has advised on funds established in various jurisdictions including Jersey, Guernsey, Cayman Islands, BVI, Luxembourg, Ireland, Singapore, Mauritius, Delaware and England. He also advises on a range of portfolio investments, secondaries and other portfolio transactions.
Mr. Black is consistently ranked as a highly regarded lawyer by the independent legal publications Chambers & Partners, The Legal 500 and IFLR1000 in the area of investment funds. The 2024 edition of Chambers UK comments that Mr. Black “knows his stuff, is very commercial and will get a deal done”. He is recognized as “a go-to for private funds advice” and that “you can guarantee that he will get back to you promptly with a commercial and reasoned solution. He is extremely client-focused and has built an exceptional practice”. Chambers also notes that “he has extremely good experience and is very interested in the success of his clients”. He is also recognized as “responsive and technically proficient, with the ability to understand clients” specific needs and to come up with appropriate solutions and insight.” He is particularly noted for his strength in private equity funds and private credit funds. Legal 500 UK 2024 highlights that Gus Black is “one of leading funds lawyers in the market; extremely knowledgeable; aware of all recent market developments; able to devise practical solutions to complex problems under time pressure".
Mr. Black is named in the Financial News’ top 20 most influential legal services list in 2021. Mr. Black is also listed as a highly recommended, leading lawyer in the 2019 Global Guide of Who's Who Legal Private Fund Formation. Mr. Black's publications include the “Private Equity Funds” chapter of Sweet & Maxwell’s Law and Regulation of Investment Management and the UK chapter of the European Lawyer Reference Series on Hedge Funds.
- Dechert’s Private Funds COO and Operations Forum – London (November 2023)
- AIMA Alternative Credit Council Global Summit 2023 – London (October 2023)
- Trends in Private Credit Fund Structuring Report Launch – London (September 2023)
- Dechert’s Private Funds Legal Retreat, 2023 – Oxford (September 2023)
- Private Funds Roundtable Series, 2023 – London (Monthly)
- Dechert’s Private Funds COO and Operations Forum – London (November 2022)
- SuperReturn International – Private Debt Day – Berlin (June 2022)
- Dechert’s Private Funds Legal Retreat, 2022 – Windsor (September 2022)
- Dechert’s Private Funds Legal Retreat, 2021 – West Sussex (September 2021)
- A Fund for All Seasons? Structuring a Credit Fund for a Changing Market, Alternative Credit Council Global Virtual Summit 2021 (April 2021)
- Funds Congress - Virtual Conference (February 2021)
- Raising Capital in a Time of Crisis, Alternative Credit Council Global Virtual Summit 2020 (June 2020)
- Annual Funds Congress, 2020 – London (February 2020)
- Private Credit Fund Structuring, ACC Private Credit Webinar (May 2020)
- Dechert’s Private Funds Legal Retreat, 2019 – Cambridge (September 2019)
- Annual Funds Congress, 2019 (February 2019)
- What are the Key Challenges in Managing Private Debt Funds? CFO/COO Private Debt 2019 (June 2019)
- Structuring and Executing Fund Investments from the U.K. Without a Passport, Brexit for Fund Managers Seminar Series - London (September 2018)
- Hedge Fund Business Forum - London (May 2018)
- European Fundraising and Structuring Workshop - New York (March 2018)
- 4th Annual LPGP Connect Private Debt London - London (March 2018)
- Annual Funds Congress, 2018 – London (February 2018)
- PDI Capital Structure Forum 2017 - London (November 2017)
- Financing the Economy: Private Credit Research Launch - New York / London (October 2017)
- 2nd Annual LPGP Private Debt Chicago - Chicago (September 2017)
- Navigating Global Regulatory Change in the Investment Funds Industry – Opportunities for Ireland - Dublin (June 2017)
- 3rd Annual LPGP Connect Private Debt - New York (May 2017)
- The Hedge Fund Business Forum 2017 - London (May 2017)
- Regulatory Developments and Opportunities in Europe - New York (March 2017)
- Annual Funds Congress, 2017 - London (February 2017)
- PDI Capital Structure Forum - London (October 2016)
- Private and Listed Credit Funds: Recent Trends in EU, UK and U.S. Fund Structuring and Financing - London (June 2016)
- Private Fund Marketing: Maximising European Investor Opportunities - New York (May 2016)
- Offshore Investment Forum 2016 - London (April 2016)
- How to raise capital in the U.S. - London (April 2016)
- LPGP Connect Private Debt - London (March 2016)
- Annual Funds Congress, 2016 - London (February 2016)
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- College of Law, Guildford, LPC
- University of Cambridge, M.A., 1997
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- England and Wales