Kenneth Burdon is a Partner in Simpson Thacher’s Registered Funds Practice. Based in the Firm’s Boston office, Ken advises asset management companies on the development, launch and ongoing operation of a full spectrum of products designed for retail and high net worth investors, such as business development companies (BDCs), registered investment companies, including interval funds, tender offer funds, listed closed-end funds, mutual funds, and ETFs, private investment funds designed for individual investors (“retail 3(c)(7) funds”), and other innovative products and structures for owning infrastructure, private credit, and private equity assets and businesses. Ken focuses on products that provide retail and high net worth investors with access to private markets and alternative asset classes. His practice also encompasses counseling on the regulatory, compliance, and governance issues these products present, he regularly assists clients in obtaining exemptive or other relief from the SEC and other financial industry regulators, and he advises financial services companies and financial institutions in connection with M&A and other transactional activity. Ken has also been a leading voice in the closed-end fund industry on the topics of corporate governance and addressing shareholder activism.
At Simpson Thacher, Ken has represented Blackstone, Stonepeak, Raymond James, SkyBridge and others in developing and operating retail and high net worth focused products to provide access to private markets and alterative asset classes. Prior to joining Simpson Thacher, Ken also represented asset management companies, including BlackRock, Gabelli Funds and FS Investments, in developing innovative products, product structures, and distribution strategies to pursue registered and unregistered traditional and alternative strategies. Ken also advised a variety of financial institutions on transactional activities and associated regulatory and compliance matters prior to joining Simpson Thacher, including Thrivent, Affiliated Managers Group, The TCW Group, Société Générale, Credit Suisse and Ameriprise.
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.