Christopher P. Harvey

Christopher P. Harvey, global co-chair of Dechert’s financial services group and a member of the firm’s Policy Committee, has more than 35 years of securities and financial services legal experience. He represents open and closed-end investment companies, other U.S. and international pooled investment vehicles, and investment advisers in a variety of transactional and regulatory matters, including reorganization transactions, registration and proxy statements, and requests for SEC exemptive and no-action relief.

Mr. Harvey also has significant experience in matters relating to trade allocation policies, soft dollar practices, cross-trading, personal and proprietary firm trading issues, Form ADV disclosure, wrap program issues, proxy voting policies and issues, custody of client funds, closed-end fund activist matters, affiliated brokerage and underwriting, and advisory agreement negotiation points such as indemnification and most favored client provisions.

Mr. Harvey advises mutual funds and their boards on the legal issues relating to advisory and Rule 12b-1 fees and distribution arrangements. He also advises on fund governance, conflicts and general fiduciary duty issues, and director and officer liability insurance issues.

In addition, Mr. Harvey advises public and private operating companies on “inadvertent investment company” status concerns, including structuring joint ventures and “incubators.” His work includes cross border offerings of investment products and services and related international regulatory matters. He also has experience in other corporate and securities matters, including private offerings and investment adviser mergers and acquisitions.

Mr. Harvey has been recognized for more than ten consecutive years for his work in registered funds by Chambers USA. In the most recent edition, clients stated that “He is certainly amongst the best of the best in this field and his expertise, experience and guidance is invaluable." Past editions noted that “He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to every matter along with the ability to concisely describe complex issues in an easily understandable manner.” “He has top-notch technical knowledge and ability, yet he is highly effective in problem solving. He is an incredibly talented attorney who masterfully blends his keen legal, business and political intellect” and that he “truly is top of the line in the investment field.” A client attested, “I would rely on him for anything and everything. He is incredibly knowledgeable and experienced.” He is also listed as a leading lawyer for mutual/registered/exchanged-traded funds in The Legal 500 (US), which states that he “is lauded by clients for his top notch technical knowledge and ability,” in IFLR1000 for investment funds, investment management, and financial services regulatory, and The Best Lawyers in America 2017 which named him the Mutual Funds Lawyer of the Year in Boston.