Alternative Asset Funds

2026

Band 1

Chambers UK 2026

2026

Tier 1

The Legal 500 UK 2026

No. 1

Funds Team of the Year

The Lawyer

Clients come to us for clear, practical guidance on all aspects of alternative asset funds. Whether you are launching a new fund, raising capital, making investments, or navigating complex transactions, our global investment funds team, with support from our expert sector teams, is here to help you succeed.

We are trusted by fund managers, sponsors, investment banks, and investors who value our deep market knowledge and responsive service. Clients rely on us for support with fund structuring, fundraising, secondary transactions, restructurings, acquisition and leveraged finance, listings, and successful exits. When challenges arise, we provide effective dispute resolution to protect your interests.

Our expertise spans a wide range of alternative asset classes, including debt, real assets, intellectual property, infrastructure, and renewable energy. Clients also turn to us for day-to-day advice on commercial, regulatory, tax, employment, and contentious issues—helping you manage risk and capture new opportunities.

‘

The team are exceptionally knowledgeable and professional.’

Chambers UK 2025

By leveraging our global network and sector insights, we act as an extension of your team, delivering tailored solutions that support your growth. Choose Stephenson Harwood for a partner who is committed to your success in the dynamic world of alternative asset funds.

Our Services

Structuring investment in real estate as well as expert support with investment and property management.

LXi REIT plc
Advising LXi REIT plc on its £138 million IPO, a real estate investment trust established to invest in a diversified portfolio of UK property that benefits from long-term index-linked leases.
Grit Real Estate Income Group Limited
Advised Grit Real Estate Income Group Limited, which has assets in seven African countries and was already listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and Stock Exchange of Mauritius, on its London IPO and listing on the Official List of the FCA.
Schroder European Real Estate Investment Trust plc
Acted for Schroder European Real Estate Investment Trust plc on its successful initial public offering on the main market of the London Stock Exchange and the main board of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.
Grit Real Estate Income Group Limited
Advising Grit Real Estate Income Group Limited on its open offer and placing and acquisition of Gateway Real Estate Africa Limited and its manager, Africa Property Development Managers Limited.
Custodian Property Income REIT plc
Advised the company on its all-share acquisition of Drum Income Plus REIT plc and on the acquisition of the entire issued share capital of Merlin Properties Limited.
LXi REIT plc
Advising the company on its c.£4 billion merger with Secure Income REIT plc.
Swiss Life Asset Managers UK Limited
Advising on the launch of a continuation fund and advising Swiss Life Thematic Continuation Fund on the acquisitions of a portfolio of self-storage assets.
M&G Real Estate
Advised on a c. £700 million joint venture with TPG Real Estate which was formed to manage and grow the Active Growth Logistics Partnership, the UK's fourth-largest multi-let industrial portfolio at 6 million square feet, occupied by 630 businesses.
Schroder Real Estate Investment Management Limited
Advised on the set-up and structuring of a self-storage platform and the acquisition of its portfolio.
Eastern Frontier Investments Limited
Advising the joint venture vehicle Eastern Frontier Investments Limited on its disposal of 100% of the issued share capital of the property holding vehicle Noble Chariot Limited.
Alvarium, UK real estate fund manager
Advising on their joint venture with Northtree and the cornerstone investment into their first and second fund.

Specialisation in structuring investment in debt and credit strategies.

SQN Asset Finance Income Fund Limited
Advised on the IPO and secondary fundraising of this investment company investing in equipment lease and asset finance arrangements across a diverse array of assets and industries, predominantly in the UK and US.
P2P Global Investments plc
Acted on the IPO and secondary fundraise of this fund focused on direct lending via peer-to-peer platforms.
VPC Specialty Lending Investments PLC
Advised on the IPO and secondary fundraising of this investment fund providing asset-backed lending solutions to emerging and established businesses.
VPC Speciality Lending Investments PLC
Advising VPC Speciality Lending Investments PLC on its £250 million placing and offer for subscription.
Alternative Credit Investments plc (formerly Pollen Street Secured Lending PLC)
Advising Alternative Credit Investments plc (formerly Pollen Street Secured Lending PLC) on the appointment of their new manager, Waterfall Asset Management LLC and the £639.2 million public takeover by Waterfall EIT UK Limited.
GCP Asset Backed Income Fund Limited
Advised GCP Asset Backed Income Fund Limited on its recommended wind-down proposals.
Fair Oaks Income Limited
Advised on its IPO and its restructurings in 2017 and 2021.
Multiplicity Partners AG, a Swiss fund manager
Advising on the formation of their fourth fund targeting $160 million and on the previous second and third fund, all focussing on special situations and complex secondary market opportunities.
Sackville Capital
Advising this UK investment fund manager on the structuring of their £500 million fund.

Supporting clients deploying capital across renewable energy strategies

Acumen H2R Expansion Fund
Advised on the launch of Acumen “Hardest-to-Reach” Expansion Fund, an impact fund launched to extend debt capital to companies operating in underserved communities in Africa to develop nascent and emerging off-grid solar markets.
Energy Access Ventures
Advising on the formation of €75m African renewable energy fund. Subsequent restructuring to facilitate the making of excused investments.
Gore Street Energy Storage Fund plc
Advising Gore Street Energy Storage Fund plc on its IPO, the first listed investment fund focused on battery storage owning SPVs in the UK and worldwide, and three subsequent capital raisings.
NextEnergy Solar Fund
Advised on the financing of five operational solar farms in the UK.
GCP Infrastructure Investments Limited
Advising GCP Infrastructure Investments Limited on its c.£250 million placing programme.
NextEnergy Capital
Advising on the formation of $900m renewable energy fund NextPower III and £500m NextPower UK ESG solar energy fund and the €100m managed account for a German pension fund.

Experienced team supporting investment across private equity strategies.

Oakley Capital Investments
Advised this fund of private equity funds on its admission to the specialist fund segment of the London Stock Exchange.
Shard Credit Partners
Advised Shard Credit Partners on the establishment of its first Venture Credit Fund focusing on investing in the north of the UK.
Schroders Capital Global Innovation Trust
Advised the company in respect of a number of funding rounds and corporate actions in respect of its growth capital investment portfolio.
Augmentum Fintech plc
Advised on the IPO and secondary fundraisings of the UK's only listed investment company focusing on venture and private equity investments the fintech sector in the UK and Europe.
Soho Square
Advising on the establishment, post-Brexit restructuring and secondary asset transfer in relation to its £135 million Fund VII.
Menhaden Resource Efficiency Plc
Advised the Company on the realisation of private equity holdings in the wind-down of its portfolio and voluntary liquidation.
Augmentum Fintech plc
Advised on matters relating to the Company’s portfolio of venture and private equity investments, including recently on its first Middle Eastern investment, Pemo.
Coniston Capital
Advising Coniston Capital, a first time UK manager on structuring and establishing its fund I investing in small cap companies.

Related Services

Awards and Recognition

The Legal 500 UK 2025

"The team has a degree of depth of understanding and experience that is rarely matched, let alone beaten. There is also a degree of pragmatism and real-world understanding with any advice."

The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2025 (Investment Funds)

"The very responsive and capable team provides high-quality and cost-effective advice."

Chambers UK 2025

"Stephenson Harwood are great at guiding you through the legal process and bring a great deal of commercial advice to the transaction."

The Legal 500 UK 2025

"The firm has strength in depth and knows our businesses. The unique characteristic is the ability to advise based on commercial situations."

Chambers UK 2025

"They are always responsive, practical with their advice and highly dependable."