Christopher Christian

Christopher D. Christian, a member of the firm’s Policy Committee and Deputy Chair for Strategic Growth, advises U.S. and European asset managers and investment funds and their boards of directors, including funds organized under the European Union directive on Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities (UCITS) and funds organized in other jurisdictions offered on a private basis.

Mr. Christian’s practice has a significant international component. He advises offshore funds on compliance with U.S. regulatory requirements and routinely counsels European retail and institutional funds on organization, registration, corporate governance, and global distribution issues. He has assisted clients in coordinating offering advisory services and various types of investment funds in compliance with local law in jurisdictions in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin and South America.

Mr. Christian is also the architect of Dechert’s World Compass, an innovative marketing compliance subscription service that offers investment firms advice in more than 100 jurisdictions.

Mr. Christian has been recognized as a leading lawyer for investment funds by Chambers USA. In the most recent edition, a client stated: "He's extremely commercial, knowledgeable and has great understanding of the client's business and is very responsive." Previous editions noted that “Chris is very knowledgeable and explains things clearly and concisely.” “We trust Chris's judgment and business know-how immensely.” “He understands the whole picture very well. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of regulation” and highlighted his “impressive understanding of cross-border regulation and a deep knowledge of industry practices and regulatory expectations,” also noting that “he is particularly well known for handling matters related to foreign-domiciled funds and UCITS.” He is also recognized in Chambers Global as a Foreign Expert in Ireland. In past editions, clients stated that he is an “excellent attorney and an invaluable resource to us in building our UCITS franchise.” “He is an innovator and has produced an amazing platform to help clients with product distribution and UCITS worldwide. A unique, worldwide expert who has developed amazing tools and has a lot of practical knowledge of how the markets work.” He has also been recognized in The Legal 500 (U.S.) and IFLR1000 in the area of investment funds.

Mr. Christian is the former Chair of the International Bar Association's Investment Funds Committee and was recently selected as Chair of the Irish Funds North America Distribution Working Group. He has spent considerable time working in Dechert's London office and is a frequent conference speaker.

US and EU Perspectives on ESG: Toward a Sustainable World or a Dangerous Utopia? — 2nd US-CEE Connection Weekend presented by Jagiellonian University & The Catholic University of America (June 28-29, 2024)
Charting your European Expansion: Exploring Pathways to New Markets — 2024 ACA Conference, Nashville, TN (April 12, 2024)
Global Themes in Investment Management — Investment Management 2023: Current Issues & Trends presented by the Practising Law Institute, New York, NY (July 25-26, 2023)
ESG and asset management: latest developments — International Bar Association (IBA) Annual Conference, Miami (November 3, 2022)
ESG Developments Outside the United States — The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law’s ESG Investing Under the Federal Securities Law Conference, Washington, D.C. (October 28, 2022)
Global Themes in Investment Management — Investment Management 2022: Current Issues and Trends presented by the Practising Law Institute, New York, NY (July 26-27, 2022)
Distribution in Europe and beyond — Association of the Luxembourg Fund Industry (ALFI) U.S. Roadshow, Boston, MA (October 16, 2019)
Global Funds – Laying the Foundation — Global Asset Management 2019 presented by the Practising Law Institute, New York, NY (September 9, 2019)
Developments in UCITS: MiFID II, Brexit, Global Fund Distribution and Anti-Money Laundering — Dechert LLP, Boston, MA (May 23, 2019)
Developments in UCITS: MiFID II, Brexit, Global Fund Distribution and Anti-Money Laundering — Dechert LLP, New York, NY (May 22, 2019)
Raising Capital in Hong Kong and China — Dechert LLP, New York, NY (May 9, 2019)
Products in Private Credit: What’s New, Different and Changing? — 5th Annual Permanent & Private Capital Summit, New York, NY (April 4, 2019)
Developments in UCITS: MiFID II, Brexit and Global Fund Distribution — Dechert LLP, Boston, MA (May 17, 2018)
Developments in UCITS: MiFID II, Brexit and Global Fund Distribution — Dechert LLP, New York, NY (May 16, 2018)
29th Annual Conference on the Globalisation of Investment Funds — Presented by the International Bar Association, New York, NY (May 13, 2018)
Irish Funds Boston Seminar — The Ritz-Carlton, Boston, MA (October 23, 2018)
Global Funds – Laying the Foundation — Global Investment Funds 2018 presented by the Practising Law Institute, New York, NY (September 20, 2018)
Current Developments Affecting the Fund Industry - San Antonio, TX (March 20, 2018)
Raising Capital in the United States in the Trump Era — ALFI Global Distribution Conference, Luxembourg (September 19-20, 2017)
Preparing for a SEC Compliance Audit – Is This What Canadian Firms Can Expect in the Future? — NSCP 2017 Canadian Conference, Toronto (June 12, 2017)
Navigating Global Regulatory Change in the Investment Funds Industry – Opportunities for Ireland - Dublin (June 8, 2017)
Irish Funds Distribution Working Group Updates — Irish Funds Distribution Workshop, Dublin (May 26, 2017)
28th Annual Conference on the Globalisation of Investment Funds — New York, NY (April 23, 2017)
Global Marketing Requirements & How to Ensure Your Team Follows These Rules — NSCP National Conference, Washington, D.C. (October 17-19, 2016)
Marketing Funds in Europe: Understanding the Opportunities and Challenges for Investment Funds — Presented by BNP Paribas and Dechert LLP, Boston, MA (October 13, 2016)
Current and Future Developments: UCITS, AIFs, Brexit and Global Fund Distribution — Dechert LLP, New York, NY (October 13, 2016)
Private Fund Marketing: Maximising European Investor Opportunities — Dechert LLP, New York, NY (May 11, 2016)
27th Annual Conference on the Globalisation of Investment Funds — Presented by the IBA Investment Funds Committee, New York (May 8, 2016)
Current Developments Affecting the Fund Industry — Orlando (March, 2016)
Global Distribution & Product Trends — Dechert LLP, Webinar (February 3, 2016)
2016 Permanent Capital Summit — Dechert LLP, New York, NY (January 26, 2016)
Getting a Foothold in Europe: The Not So Harsh Reality — Presented by CTA Intelligence, New York (November 5, 2015)
Mutual Recognition – Global Distribution Solutions — International Bar Association Annual Conference, Vienna (October 7, 2015)
European Funds Breakfast Seminar — Dechert LLP, Paris, France (June 3, 2015)
Broker Dealers and Investment Advisers – Emerging Challenges and Opportunities — The Association of Life Insurance Counsel Annual Meeting, Palm Beach, FL (May 18, 2015)
Institutional and High Net Worth Marketing in the United States and Europe — Dechert LLP, New York, NY (April 29, 2015)
4th Annual Funds Congress — Sponsored by Dechert LLP and Carne Group, London, UK (February 26, 2015)
A Small Piece of the Pie: Fitting Canada into the World - Or the World is Coming to Canada — The 14th Annual Investment Funds Invitational Forum, Cambridge, Ontario (October 23, 2014)
Roundtable – Raising Global Capital for US Investment — 2014 NAREIM Legal & Compliance Council Meeting, Chicago, IL (October 16, 2014)
Alternative Funds Breakfast Seminar — Dechert LLP, Paris, France (June 11, 2014)
Current and Future Developments in UCITS, AIFMD and Global Fund Distribution — Dechert LLP, New York, NY (April 29, 2014)
3rd Annual Funds Congress — Sponsored by Dechert LLP and Carne Group, London, UK (March 20, 2014)
Globalization of the Fund Industry: Considerations for Fund Directors — Independent Directors Council Fund Directors Conference, Chicago (October 21, 2013)
Marketing and Managing Funds in a Post-AIFMD World — Dechert LLP, Luxembourg (October 16, 2013)
UCITS Directive/AIFM Directive: Global Distribution - Practical Considerations — QuantValley/QMI Annual Research Conference, New York, NY (June 25, 2013)
Current and Future Developments in UCITS, AIFMD and Global Fund Distribution — Dechert LLP, Boston, MA (June 7, 2013)
Current and Future Developments in UCITS, AIFMD and Global Fund Distribution — Dechert LLP, New York, NY (June 6, 2013)
PM/IFM – Foreign Developments Impacting Canadian Fund Managers — The National Society of Compliance Professionals Canadian Membership Meeting 2013, Toronto, Ontario (April 22, 2013)
Rules of the Road: Side-by-Side Management of UCITS and 40 Act Funds — Investment Company Institute's Mutual Funds and Investment Management Conference, Palm Desert, CA (March 18, 2013)
Cross-Border Considerations for Broker-Dealers and Advisers — Practising Law Institute's Broker-Dealer and Adviser Regulatory Compliance Forum 2013, New York, NY (February 20, 2013)
The Dechert Dublin Fund Symposium — Dechert LLP, Dublin, Ireland (January 31, 2013)
European Funds Distribution Forum — J.P. Morgan, San Francisco, CA (December 5, 2012)
Making Plans for a Euro Exit — Ignites Europe, Webcast (July 6, 2012)
UCITS - A Vehicle of Choice for U.S. Fund Promoters: Current and Future Developments — Dechert LLP, Boston, MA (June 8, 2012)
UCITS - A Vehicle of Choice for U.S. Fund Promoters: Current and Future Developments — Dechert LLP, New York, NY (June 6, 2012)
Marketing of UCITS in Asia — Dechert LLP, Webinar (July 6, 2011)
UCITS IV: Practical Implications for U.S. Promoters — Dechert LLP, Boston, MA (May 13, 2011)
The Rise of “newCITS:” Opportunities and Risk Management Strategies for Hedge Fund Managers — Foundation Research Associates, Webinar (January 31, 2011)
Global Fund Distribution - Solutions for 2013 and Beyond — KB Associates, New York, NY (October 24, 2012)
European Regulated Funds Regulatory Update — Investment Company Institute's International Committee, Washington, DC (May 7, 2012)
Achieving a Sophisticated Global Distribution Model — UCITS for Hedge, Mutual and Investment Fund Managers, New York, NY (February 28, 2012)
Cross-Border Advisory Services - Navigating Foreign Regulatory Requirements — The National Society of Compliance Professionals National Meeting, Baltimore, MD (October 17, 2011)
Fund Distribution: The Practical Steps to Reach a Global Investor Base — J.P. Morgan Global Distribution Fund Forum, New York, NY (October 12, 2011)
Legal Issues - UCITS IV - European Passport — Roadshow 2011: Alceda UCITS Conference, Boston, MA (June 28, 2011)
UCITS and US Mutual Funds: Differences and Similarities Between US and European Regulatory Framework — Joint Meeting of the Investment Company Institute's International Committee and European Fund and Asset Management Association, Washington, DC (May 3, 2011)
UCITS for Fund Managers — Financial Research Associates Conference, New York, NY (November 8, 2010)
International Compliance Concerns — The National Society of Compliance Professionals National Meeting, Baltimore, MD (November 2, 2010)
Derivatives and Trading: The Shape of Things to Come — 10th Annual Investment Funds Invitational Forum, Cambridge, ON (October 22, 2010)
Buy-side Exposures -The Risks — International Bar Association Conference, Vancouver (October 6, 2010)
Publicly Traded Fund Opportunities for Private Fund Managers — Dechert LLP, New York, NY (January 28, 2010)
Property Related Investments — IBA / Joint Session of the Investment Funds Committee and Real Estate Section of the International Bar Association (IBA) Annual Conference 2008, Buenos Aires (October 14, 2008)
Cross-Border Advisory Services - Navigating Foreign Regulatory Requirements — 2008 National Regulatory Services (NRS) Spring Conference, Miami, FL (May 14, 2008)
Rule 206(4) -7's “Annual Review Requirement” — The 2008 NY Sub-Advised & Multi-Managed Funds Summit, New York, NY (January 25, 2008)
Market Timing, Fair Value Pricing, and Fraud — Financial Research Associates Mastering Compliance for Sub-Advised Funds, Cambridge, MA (July 18, 2007)
Current Issues for SEC Registered Investment Advisers — Dechert LLP, London, UK (June 6, 2007)