Gerald Francese has an extensive corporate and financial regulatory practice. Jerry focuses on mergers and acquisitions, formation and representation of investment funds, including venture, private equity, hedge, BDCs and interval funds, fintech and bank regulatory matters. Jerry's clients include some of the world's largest financial services institutions, investment advisers, investment companies, public and private companies and investors.
Gerald Francese has an extensive corporate and financial regulatory practice. Jerry focuses on mergers and acquisitions, formation and representation of investment funds, including venture, private equity, hedge, BDCs and interval funds, fintech and bank regulatory matters. Jerry's clients include some of the world's largest financial services institutions, investment advisers, investment companies, public and private companies and investors.
He helps investment advisers sponsor investment vehicles and separately managed accounts, and has structured and closed numerous seed and growth investments and platforms. Jerry works closely with investors to achieve investment goals and minimize adverse tax consequences. His fund clients span multiple industries, including:
- Alternative energy
- Commodities
- Construction finance
- Crypto-currencies
- Education
- Emerging markets
- Energy
- FinTech
- Food
- Health care
- Hospitality
- Logistics
- Performing and distressed debt
- Real estate and opportunity zones
Jerry's transactional practice includes:
- Domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions
- Private placements
- Joint ventures
- Management buyouts
- Corporate finance, rights and exchange offers
- Asset transactions
- Going-private transactions
His financial regulatory experience includes commercial banking; proprietary investing, including SBA, CRA and LIHTC investing; Volcker compliance; deposit sweep programs; DACAs; global equity aggregation requirements; BHCA requirements for investment advisers and investment companies; and alternative trading platform development and operation. Jerry enjoys working on cutting-edge legal issues related to fintech, securities offerings and trading.
Professional History
- Partner, Locke Lord LLP
- In-House Counsel and Compliance and Risk Executive, Bank of America
Community Leadership
- Chair, Board of Directors, Barrier Free Living Family of Companies
- Chair of the Board of Managers of Arts Institute International, a national university system
- President's Board of Advisors, Roger Williams University