K&L Gates announced that Edward Baer has joined the firm’s Asset Management and Investment Funds practice as a partner in San Francisco. Baer joined the firm from Ropes & Gray and brings extensive experience advising exchange-traded funds, investment companies, and asset managers on regulatory, governance, compliance, operational, and capital markets matters.
Baer’s practice covers the full lifecycle of fund development and operations, including product structuring, compliance frameworks, board governance, ETF trading, and creation and redemption mechanics. He also advises clients on digital assets and cryptocurrency-related matters, including fund structures, regulatory considerations, token investments, and emerging market products.
Earlier in his career, Baer served as managing director and senior counsel at the world’s largest asset manager and was chief legal officer of the largest U.S. ETF platform. In that role, he oversaw legal and compliance matters for more than 300 ETFs representing approximately $800 billion in assets under management at the time. His experience includes ETF registration, exemptive relief, exchange listing and trading issues, and the development of innovative ETF structures and strategies.
Baer’s arrival continues K&L Gates’ expansion of its Asset Management and Investment Funds practice. Over the past year, the firm has added partners Thoreau Bartmann in Washington, D.C., Huberta Chow in Hong Kong, Marianna Tothova in London, and Robert Leonard in New York.
K&L Gates’ Asset Management and Investment Funds practice has more than 150 lawyers across Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, and North America. The team advises investment companies, advisers, broker-dealers, emerging managers, and institutional investors on matters involving hedge funds, private equity funds, real estate funds, exchange-traded products, capital markets, derivatives, ERISA, ESG, and global regulation.
KEY QUOTES:
“Edward’s deep experience across both traditional ETF structures and rapidly evolving digital asset products makes him an outstanding addition to our practice. Clients are increasingly navigating the intersection of regulated funds and next-generation investment vehicles, and Edward brings valuable insight into both.”
Clair Pagnano, Leader, Global Asset Management and Investment Funds Practice, K&L Gates
“Edward has spent his career at the forefront of ETF product development, regulation, and innovation, and he brings a level of depth and practical experience that is rare in this space. His arrival reflects our continued commitment to the California market and strengthens our ability to meet the evolving needs of clients across asset management and digital assets.”
J. Matthew Mangan, Managing Partner, San Francisco Office, K&L Gates
