Abigail Hemnes, partner, is a leading investment management lawyer with a practice focused on advising registered funds, including mutual funds and exchange-traded funds, and their boards of directors, on all aspects of regulation, registration, and compliance. She brings deep experience and nuanced judgment to a wide range of matters, including new product development, disclosure and proxy issues, internal and external reorganizations (including complex asset acquisitions), and board governance.
Abigail is highly regarded for her work representing investment companies before the US Securities and Exchange Commission, where she regularly advises on registration matters, proxy materials, and other regulatory filings. She has extensive experience working across the full spectrum of registered fund structures, including fund-of-funds, manager-of-managers platforms, and target date funds designed for retirement-focused investors.
Abigail is recognized for her experience in retail fund investments in alternative
asset classes, including investments in private markets, where she helps clients
navigate complex investment vehicles involving hedge funds, private equity, and
other alternative strategies. She also has significant experience advising on proxy
solicitations, offering strategic, practical guidance.
During law school, Abigail served as a legal intern to the Honorable Nancy Gertner and interned in the general counsel's office of a Massachusetts-based pharmaceutical company. Prior to joining K&L Gates, Abigail worked in Mauritius as a law clerk in a management company providing corporate services to offshore and international companies. Abigail was a summer associate at K&L Gates in 2008.
- Certified Legal Project Manager (LawVision)
- In 2019, Abigail Hemnes was awarded “Rising Star” at the 26th Mutual Funds Industry Awards sponsored by Fund Industry Intelligence and Fund Director Intelligence. The “Rising Stars” were selected based on their accomplishments and contributions to the mutual fund industry in the areas of client service and product innovation that makes them stand out among their peers and position them as future leaders.
- Member, Subcommittee on Investment Companies and Investment Advisers, Committee on Federal Regulation of Securities, Business Law Section, American Bar Association
- “Every Fund Has One—The Amended Names Rule and Its Impact,” The Investment Lawyer, February 2024
- “Tailored Shareholder Reports,” The Investment Lawyer, January 2023
- “What To Know About SEC Shareholder Disclosure Reforms,” Law360, 28 October 2022
- "Considerations When Drafting an ESG 80% Policy," IAA Today (Investment Adviser Association), 14 February 2022
- Quoted, “SEC's Updated 'Names Rule' to Leave Funds Pondering: Change My Name or Change My Policy?” FundFire, 21 September 2023
- Quoted, “Final Names Rule Eases Proposal’s Compliance Burdens,” Ignites, 21 September
- Quoted, “SEC Cracks Down on Misleading Fund Names,” Advisor Hub, 20 September 2023
- Quoted, “Funds’ Portfolios Must Reflect Their Name, SEC Says,” Plan Adviser, 20 September 2023
- Quoted, “SEC expands rule to ensure fund portfolios match their names,” Investment News, 20 September 2023
- Mentioned, “Fund industry braced for SEC crackdown on deceptive product labels,” Financial Times, 19 September 2023
- Mentioned, “Highlights of This Issue,” The Investment Lawyer, 1 January 2023
- Mentioned, “Experts mourn loss of digital option, cost of shareholder report rule,” Fund Directions, 8 December 2022
- Quoted, “New SEC Rule Revamps Fund Docs, E-Delivery,” Ignites, 27 October 2022
- Quoted, “SEC Tightens Mutual Fund Reports, Seeks New Adviser Rules,” Law360, 26 October 2022
