• Kramer Levin’s Derivatives and Structured Products group advises investment funds and their managers, investment banks, commodity brokers and traders, and other market participants on the full range of derivatives products, transactions and regulatory matters. Clients come to us because of our market knowledge, deal sophistication and skill in working with complex derivatives issues as well as our ability to structure novel products and bespoke transactions to meet their specific needs.

    Actively engaged in this market since its inception, we have developed a nuanced understanding of the products, markets, terms, trading practices and regulations that enables us to offer creative and pragmatic solutions and secure the best possible deal terms based on our clients’ risk tolerance, leverage and goals. 

    Our main areas of focus include:

    • Representing clients in highly customized structured derivatives, including structured repo agreements, structured total return swap facilities, fund-linked equity swaps and warehouse financings
    • Negotiating swap, repo, securities lending, futures, prime brokerage, clearing and other trading facilities as well as related collateral agreements 
    • Helping clients assess and mitigate the liquidity, credit, insolvency and regulatory risks inherent in trading financial products and enhance their position in the context of a counterparty insolvency.
    • Counseling derivatives clients on issues relating to distressed investments, credit and succession events, and settlement questions regarding credit default swaps
    • Advising market participants on compliance with laws and regulations relating to the derivatives and futures industry, evolving trading infrastructure, and litigation matters

    We also provide guidance on U.S. and European trading regulations and advise market participants on how onshore and offshore regulations impact potential trades involving equity, commodities, currency, fixed-income or other underlying assets.

    Our team publishes the quarterly blog Decoding Derivatives, which discusses notable events, strategies, and developments in the credit and derivatives markets.