Kirstene is
a financial
services specialist and is Head of the Financial Services and
Funds Group. She advises leading players in the financial services
market on legal and regulatory developments, particularly with
regard to new funds products and services.
With over 20 years experience in this sector, her leading
expertise is acknowledged by UK and international legal
directories. For example, Kirstene is ranked in Band 1 for Open and
Closed-ended Funds by Chambers UK, 2011 and is endorsed as a
prominent practitioner in the IFLR Guide to the World’s Leading
Investment Funds Lawyers.
Kirstene is best known for her advice on UK authorised funds.
Indeed she advised the FSA on the structure and governance of UK
authorised funds when the FSA was preparing its proposals for its
Collective Investment Schemes (COLL) Sourcebook. Her practice has
evolved, with the globalisation of fund management businesses, not
only to cover regulated funds, but also a wide range of
international funds and products, including alternative investment
funds and property funds. Also she advises a wide range of clients
on UK financial services regulation, including FSMA perimeter
issues, insurance and pension products, conduct of business issues
and the impact of the implementation of EU Directives.
Kirstene is Co Chair of the Investment Funds Committee of
the International Bar Association, and participates in the
Financial Services Section of the Association's LPD Council. She is
a member of the Legal Advisory Group of the UK Investment
Management Association (IMA). She is a regular speaker on the
lecture circuit, for example recently presenting at a State Street
Seminar on regulatory fund developments and chairing the Regulators
Roundtable panel at the International Bar Association’s
Globalisation Investment Funds conference in Boston.