Recognized by Chambers and others as being among the nation’s leading registered funds attorneys, Ken Burdon advises registered investment funds, BDCs, investment advisers and other financial services companies and financial institutions on the full spectrum of product development and distribution and related regulatory, compliance and governance issues, as well as M&A, divestitures and split-offs, among other matters. He works with fund sponsors on the development of innovative products and counsels BDCs and closed-end funds on IPOs and other capital raising offerings. Ken also guides fund sponsors and distributors, BDCs and closed-end funds, mutual funds and others in routine and non-routine activities, such as seeking exemptive or no-action relief from the SEC and FINRA. Ken is also a leading voice in the closed-end fund industry on the topics of corporate governance and addressing shareholder activism.
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Work Highlights
Notable experience prior to joining Simpson Thacher includes advising:
- BlackRock in the structuring, distribution, and launch of a variety of listed and unlisted closed-end funds, including interval funds, tender offer funds, and master/feeder and multiple class structures
- The RMR Group and NexPoint Advisors in the conversion of closed-end funds to REITs
- Multiple clients in high profile disputes with institutional closed-end fund activist investors
- BDCs in connection with public offerings raising billions in capital and in structuring innovative offerings
- Gabelli Funds in connection with a variety of public and private offerings
Accolades
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Chambers Global, Registered Funds – USA (2022-2024)
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Chambers USA, Registered Funds (USA – Nationwide) (2021-2023)
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Chambers Global Up and Coming, Investment Funds: Registered Funds – USA (2020-2021)
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Chambers USA Up and Coming, Investment Funds, Registered Funds (USA – Nationwide) (2019-2020)
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“Rising Star” in Registered Funds, IFLR1000 (2018)
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Rising Star of Mutual Funds, Fund Action (2018)
Education
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Boston University School of Law, 2007 J.D.
summa cum laude; Editor, Boston University Law Review
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Boston University, 2004 B.A.
summa cum laude; Phi Beta Kappa
Based in Boston, Kenneth Burdon is a Partner in Simpson Thacher’s Registered Funds Practice and will be resident in the Firm’s Boston office that will open later this year. Ken advises registered investment funds, business development companies (BDCs), investment advisers and other financial services companies and financial institutions on the full spectrum of product development and distribution and related regulatory, compliance and governance issues, as well as M&A, divestitures and split-offs, among other matters. He works with fund sponsors on the development of innovative products and counsels BDCs and closed-end funds on IPOs and other capital raising offerings. Ken also guides fund sponsors and distributors, BDCs and closed-end funds, mutual funds and others in routine and non-routine activities, such as seeking exemptive or no-action relief from the SEC and FINRA. Ken is also a leading voice in the closed-end fund industry on the topics of corporate governance and addressing shareholder activism.
Ken’s work has historically included the development of innovative products and product structures to pursue registered and unregistered alternative strategies for clients including BlackRock and FS Investments. He has also advised the EIM Group (now the LumX Group) on a variety of onshore and offshore products in the private product space. Additionally, Ken has advised financial institutions on transactional activities, including Thrivent, Affiliated Managers Group, The TCW Group, Société Générale, Credit Suisse and Ameriprise, and on associated regulatory and compliance matters.
Ken has been recognized by both Chambers Global and Chambers USA in the Registered Funds category. He was previously named a Rising Star in Registered Funds by IFLR1000, and one of the Rising Stars of Mutual Funds at Fund Action’s Mutual Fund Industry Awards.
Ken received his J.D. in 2007, summa cum laude from Boston University School of Law, where he was an Editor of Boston University Law Review. He received his B.A. from Boston University in 2004, summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. He is admitted to practice in Massachusetts.