National law firm Polsinelli has added shareholders Brian A. Bullard and George T. Lee III to its Dallas office and the firm’s growing Investment Funds practice.

Bullard and Lee are both well-known in the legal profession for their significant work with investment advisers and private investment groups that sponsor a variety of investment vehicles, such as hedge funds, real estate funds, private equity funds and venture capital funds, as well as public and private corporations. In addition to their high-stakes transactional work, Bullard and Lee have also made a name for themselves counseling investment advisers with respect to regulatory matters and compliance obligations affecting investment funds and managers.

“Both Brian and George bring valuable skills and even greater depth to our active Investment Funds, Securities and Corporate and Transactional practices,” said Jon Henderson, managing partner of Polsinelli’s Dallas office and chair of the firm’s national Corporate and Transactional practice. “These two attorneys are highly sought after due to their deep knowledge and understanding of investment advisers’ and investment funds’ legal and operational challenges. We anticipate that Brian’s background in finance and accounting, coupled with George’s over 30 years of legal experience, including serving as general counsel for a Texas hedge fund, will deliver great value to our clients.”

With a focus on implementing comprehensive, business-centric strategies, Bullard’s practice primarily centers on matters relating to the structuring, formation and management of private investment vehicles, including joint ventures, private equity/hedge funds, and special purpose operating companies. Bullard has extensive experience representing both emerging and institutional managers/sponsors with commercial real estate transactions involving the acquisition, financing, development, operation, and disposition of multi-family and mixed-use properties, hotels, student housing projects and medical and senior living centers. Bullard also frequently advises prospective and existing investment advisors with respect to their compliance obligations under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and will generally assist advisers with understanding available exemptions from registration, completing and amending Form ADV (Part 1A and Parts 2A and 2B), and the review of internal compliance policies and manuals.

Bullard earned his juris doctor, cum laude, from Southern Methodist University, and previously attended The University of Texas at Austin, earning a Master of Professional Accounting degree with an emphasis on taxation, and a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in accounting and finance.

Lee has been credited with shaping the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rules that govern family offices and is well-known for his work with the state of Texas to create its exemption to registration rules for private investment funds. Both an accomplished attorney and a prominent leader in the investment industry, he has assisted registered investment advisers, private investment funds and family offices with investment fund formation, regulatory compliance and investment structuring. In addition, Lee also advises public companies, private companies and investors with respect to federal and state securities law. Lee’s experience as general counsel of a Texas hedge fund gives him firsthand experience of how private investment funds are run.

Lee earned a juris doctor from The University of Texas at Austin, and previously completed his Bachelor of Arts degree in economics, with honors, at Carleton College.

Bullard and Lee are also excellent sources for media writing about the following topics:
•The structuring, formation and management of private investment vehicles
•Trends in private equity, commercial real estate, hedge funds and venture capital
•Compliance obligations under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940

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