Edward Eisert, a partner in K&L Gates' New York City office, focuses his practice on advising U.S. and non-U.S. financial institutions regarding investment management, financial products, joint ventures/mergers and acquisitions, and regulatory compliance.

Mr. Eisert was a Senior Vice President and the General Corporate Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Fiduciary Trust Company International, New York State chartered, FDIC insured bank, and subsidiary of Franklin Resources, Inc., from August 2002 to April 2007.

At Franklin Templeton, he advised senior management and the institutional, private wealth management, and investor services lines of business on legal matters, including those relating to asset management and banking mandates, financial products and services, securities and banking regulatory compliance, and litigation. Specific matters included global mandates for U.S. and non-U.S. institutions; structuring private equity real estate investment funds and investments in private investment fund products; marketing arrangements with non-affiliates; investment programs for the U.S. pension plan market; acquisitions of investment managers; development of an "open architecture" high net worth investment platform; side-by-side management of registered funds, private funds and separately managed accounts; use of affiliated registered funds in implementing investment mandates; and development and enhancement of securities and AML compliance programs.

Prior to Franklin Templeton, Mr. Eisert was a partner at a prominent New York law firm. At that firm, Mr. Eisert represented U.S. and non-U.S. diversified, global financial institutions, investment firms and institutional investors, primarily with regard to investment management matters, capital markets/structured finance matters, joint ventures/mergers and acquisitions matters, and securities regulatory matters. His investment management practice included the structuring of U.S. and non-U.S. private investment funds (e.g., hedge funds, funds of funds, private equity and venture capital funds with respect to a broad range of asset classes); the representation of sponsors of, and institutional investors in, private funds; and the negotiation of separately managed account mandates. His capital markets/structured finance practice included the structuring of cross-border securities offerings and structured note and bond programs. His joint ventures/mergers and acquisitions practice included the structuring and operations of global and U.S. joint ventures in investment management; management “lift-outs;” and acquisitions and mergers of investment management firms. He also represented issuers, investors, underwriters and placement agents in public and private securities offerings, private equity investments and merger and acquisition transactions. His securities regulatory practice included the structuring and operations of investment advisers and broker-dealers; asset management and custody activities (including global joint ventures and compliance programs); the side-by-side management of registered funds, private funds and separately managed accounts; and the discretionary use of affiliated funds.

Mr. Eisert began his career as a law clerk to the Honorable Charles L. Brieant, U.S. District Court, S.D.N.Y.

• The Economic Club of New York: Member, 2009-present
• Lawyers Advisory Committee to the Managed Funds Association: 2009-present
• New York Small Business Venture Capital Fund LLC: Member of Board, 1998-2004
• American Bar Association: Federal Regulation of Securities Committee, 1982-present; Subcommittee on Investment Companies and Advisers, 1992-present; Subcommittee on Private Equity and Venture Capital, 2008-present; Banking Law Committee 2007-Present; Subcommittee on Annual Review of Securities Regulation, 1982-1989
• NY State Bankers Association: Legislative and Regulatory Policy Committee, 2003-2007; Lawyers Advisory Committee, 2003-2007
• International Bar Association
• New York State Bar Association
• New York City Bar Association
• N.Y.U. Law Alumni Association: Member of Board, 1990-present