Chris Bergin is a partner in A&L Goodbody's Asset Management and Investment Funds group. Chris advises on the establishment and operation of regulated and unregulated Irish investment funds including UCITS, ETFs, money market funds, Retail Investor AIFs, private equity funds, hedge funds, debt funds, loan origination funds and property funds. Chris has advised on the authorisation and ongoing operation of UCITS management companies, AIFMs, a fund administrator and specialised depositary.
Chris was previously on secondment to the DWS legal team supporting their ETF products.
Areas of Expertise
Asset Management & Investment Funds/ESG and Sustainability /Private Equity
Experience Advising:
- DWS and HSBC in relation to their money market fund platforms including the implementation of money market fund reform, the establishment of new products and ongoing advices.
- Intermediate Capital Group on the establishment of qualifying investor alternative investment funds, including loan origination funds, making use of a super QIAIF structure, by holding investments through Irish Section 110 companies.
- Hines Asset Management on the establishment of an ICAV authorised as a qualifying investor alternative investment fund and the acquisition of property assets.
- Ocorian on the establishment and authorisation of their Irish AIFM, fund administration and specialised depositary businesses.
- DWS in relation to its Irish domiciled UCITS ETF platform, including in relation to the establishment of passive synthetic and physical replicating index and strategy tracking ETFs. Chris also advised in relation to the cross-border merger of UCITS sub-funds from Luxembourg to Ireland and the switch by certain ETF products from synthetic replication to physical replication methodologies.
- Amundi Asset Management on the establishment of their Irish domiciled ETF platform.
- Lemanik Asset Management on the establishment of a UCITS platform.
- HSBC in relation to its passive UCITS ICAV platform, Common Contractual Fund and Alternative UCITS platform.
- Horizon Kinetics on the establishment, authorisation and listing of an actively managed UCITS ETF.
- A European asset manager on establishing a hedge fund structure involving a Master ICAV, Feeder ICAV and Delaware LP marketed to US taxable, non-US and US tax exempt investors.
Market Recommendations
"Very knowledgeable about Irish & EU Funds regulation. Takes a practical approach to problems. He has an excellent understanding of our business and needs.” (IFLR1000 2024)
“He is very knowledgeable, responsive and reliable. He is technically strong, supportive and clear communicator. He has proven to be pragmatic and provides incredible client service and support.” (IFLR1000 2024)
“Chris Bergin and his team are very responsive and knowledgeable. They are technically very strong and have provided detailed and measured advice in both day-to-day operations and in periods of difficulty. Chris has an excellent understanding of regulator expectations which is key to navigating through new regulations. He is very highly regarded by all stakeholders.” (IFLR1000 2024)
Professional activities
Chris is a lecturer on the Law Society of Ireland's Finance Law Diploma programme and trainee solicitor professional practice course. Chris also speaks on panels in relation to asset management and investment fund related topics and is an active member of Irish Funds working groups.
Education
- Bachelor of Corporate Law, National University of Ireland, Galway
- Solicitor, Law Society of Ireland
Chris Bergin
Partner,
Asset Management & Investment Funds
Dublin