Kelley M. Bender

Kelley Bender is a partner with Chapman and Cutler LLP and is a member of the firm’s Corporate and Securities Department and its Private Funds Group and Investment Management Group. She primarily represents institutional investors of private equity funds, hedge funds, real estate funds, infrastructure funds, collective investment trusts, and other private investment funds. Kelley has assisted clients looking to maintain greater control over their investment assets in negotiating separately managed accounts with large asset managers, as well as creating unique fund-of-one structures. She also represents select sponsors of private investment funds, often in niche areas such as social impact investing and marketplace lending. Kelley has represented many new fund managers and guided them through the formation and offering process. Kelley is a regular speaker at legal and industry conferences on private fund and partnership/LLC matters.

Kelley also advises the firm’s registered investment adviser and investment company clients on a variety of matters, including fund formation and regulatory compliance. In particular, she has extensive experience advising on the development and operation of exchange-traded funds.

Kelley started her career in the Tax Department at Chapman where she provided tax planning assistance to the firm’s institutional clients, particularly in the areas of lending, partnerships, investment companies, equipment leasing and employee benefits.

In addition, Kelley is active in the firm’s pro bono and charitable efforts. In particular, she has advised numerous organizations on their formation and qualification as section 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entities. She is also active in the firm's recruiting efforts for its Summer Associate Program and Finance Law Development Program, and she is a former chair of the firm's Employment Committee. Kelley currently serves as a member of the firm’s Management Committee.