Christopher D. Christian

Christopher D. Christian, 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.