European law firm Fieldfisher has launched Cummings Fisher, a hedge fund, derivative and alternative investment management-focused law firm. The firm is located at 1 Mayfair Place, in the heart of London's hedge fund district.

Global reach

Cummings Fisher is led by its three principal partners. Managing Partner Claire Cummings practices financial services law with a focus on regulatory issues, cryptocurrencies and tokens, trading and brokerage documentation and advising both existing and start-up funds and fund managers. She founded Cummings Law in 2003. She is joined by partners, Ron Feldman leading the derivatives practice and James Tinworth leading the funds practice. Cummings Fisher will specialise in funds, derivatives, financial services regulation and fund formation. Ms Cummings said, ‘we are now able to extend our expertise to provide a global reach for clients and build on our sector-leading advice to firms involved in emerging financing trends, such as crowdfunding, cryptocurrencies, payment platforms, tokenisations and digital currencies.’

Gap filled

Mr Tinworth joins from Stephenson Harwood where he was a partner and head of the hedge funds practice. Mr Feldman was previously a partner at MJ Hudson and held senior positions at the London office of Schulte Roth & Zabel and in-house at the investment bank Credit Suisse. Cummings Fisher will also be able to make full use of the wide network of Fieldfisher offices and other associations. Guy Usher, head of financial markets & products at Fieldfisher, commented ‘the Cummings Fisher proposition fills a big gap in the market between traditional law firms and the sole practitioners serving clients in the alternative investments sector.’ He added, the firm ‘will be the first London-based firm providing legal services solely to hedge funds, investment funds and their managers, combined with complex advisory and cost-efficient document handling using our near shore service centre in Belfast, which already has 30 trading document negotiators. It can also provide data extraction solutions using our Condor alternative legal solutions platform."