January 25, 2021
New York, NY (January 25, 2021) --- Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP today announced the addition of Benjamin B. Allensworth, who rejoins the Firm as counsel. Mr. Allensworth will be a member of the Firm’s Asset Management Group, focusing his practice on advising investment advisers, private funds, hybrid regulated fund products (including business development companies), and broker-dealers on regulatory, compliance and transactional matters, and will be based in Washington, DC. He previously served as Managing Director & Counsel for Tax and Finance at the Managed Funds Association (MFA), the leading industry trade organization of the global hedge fund industry, for 13 years. Prior to that, he was an associate in Willkie’s Washington office.
“Ben has a strong regulatory and compliance background and valuable experience representing the alternative investment industry through his work at MFA,” said Margery Neale, Chair of Willkie’s Asset Management Group. “He will be a tremendous asset to our clients navigating new and changing regulations affecting the industry. We are thrilled to welcome him back to Willkie.”
At MFA, Mr. Allensworth focused on analyzing and advocating on regulatory and legislative developments affecting the alternative investment industry. He also counseled asset managers on legislation and regulation, including The Dodd-Frank Act and JOBS Act; ERISA fiduciary rules; SEC standards of conduct and advertising rules; US and EU systemic risk regulatory proposals; EU Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive; and the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, among others. He also advocated for policy initiatives relevant to the industry and regularly testified at congressional and regulatory hearings.
Mr. Allensworth commented: “Willkie has a world-class asset management practice and expansive platform serving a broad range of clients across the industry, which presents a terrific opportunity to expand my practice. I am thrilled to rejoin this team of accomplished practitioners to further enhance Willkie’s capabilities to its clients.”
Before joining MFA in 2007, Mr. Allensworth was a member of Willkie’s Asset Management Group in Washington, DC, where he represented investment advisers, including hedge fund and private equity fund managers, registered investment companies and broker-dealers. He also advised on the organization and offering of alternative investment vehicles, created and reviewed compliance programs for investment advisers and investment companies, provided regulatory advice, and assisted with regulatory investigations.
Mr. Allensworth received a BA from the University of Richmond and a JD from the University of North Carolina School of Law.
Willkie’s Asset Management Group of 90+ attorneys provides legal services to a wide array of clients in the asset management industry, including privately owned investment advisers, publicly traded asset management firms, broker dealers, insurance companies and banks, on subjects ranging from operations to fund formations, compliance and regulation. The group’s 250+ clients include funds, advisers and/or independent directors of more than 30 of the world’s most prominent asset management firms with AUM ranging from $4 billion to nearly $7 trillion.
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Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP is an international law firm of approximately 750 attorneys with offices in New York, Washington, Houston, Palo Alto, San Francisco, Chicago, Paris, London, Frankfurt, Brussels, Milan and Rome. The Firm is headquartered in New York City at 787 Seventh Avenue.
Tel: 212.728.8000.
