EFFIE VASILOPOULOS is a member of Sidley’s Executive Committee and also a co-leader of the global Investment Funds group. She focuses on investment fund formation transactions, particularly the development of innovative investment fund structures and financial products, including private equity, hedge, real estate, infrastructure, credit, venture capital, special situations and other hybrid fund arrangements.
Effie also has significant experience of corporate finance transactions involving the listing of fund vehicles, joint ventures, the acquisition and disposal of fund management companies and the restructuring of a wide range of collective investment vehicles.
Effie has been described as “a highly sought-after specialist in both the private open and closed-end funds spaces,” and has advised a diverse range of leading participants in the financial services industry in Asia including government investment corporations, multinational fund sponsors and managers, investment banks, trustees, financial institutions, venture capitalists, and institutional investors, including intermediaries involved in the distribution of financial products.
Effie is recognized as a leading authority in the funds area in Asia, having been involved in a number of ground-breaking deals in the Asia region over the last few years. Effie is recognized as one of the 2020 IFLR1000 Asia Best Lawyers. IFLR1000 also named Effie to the Women Leaders supplement for four consecutive years from 2018 to 2021. She was honored as the sole recipient of the “Outstanding Practitioner Award” by the Euromoney Legal Media Group's Asia Women in Business Law Awards 2018. In 2014, she received the “Asia Industry Leadership Award” from 100 Women in Finance, a global industry association for women professionals, in recognition of her leadership and achievement in the fund management industry in Asia. She has also been recognized as a leading lawyer in Investment Funds in IFLR1000, The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific, Chambers Asia-Pacific, Chambers Global, Asialaw Profiles, PLC Which Lawyer, and The International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers. Effie has been praised as “one of the very best lawyers in the investment funds field”; “very meticulous and responsible, and provides excellent legal advice.” She co-leads Sidley’s Investment Funds group, which has been ranked Band 1 for Investment Funds: Private Equity and Band 1 for Investment Funds: Hedge Funds by Chambers Asia-Pacific.
Effie was recognized as among the top 10 private funds lawyers on a global basis in The International Who’s Who of Private Funds Lawyers. She has also been listed by Legal Media Group’s Expert Guides as one of the world’s leading lawyers for investment funds. In 2021, Effie was inducted into The Legal 500 Asia Pacific Hall of Fame for Investment Funds, in recognition of sustained praise from clients for service excellence. She has also won several key industry awards in Asia in recent years, including AsianInvestor’s “Best Law Firm for Asset Management, Asia Pacific” in 2018 and 2015, the marquee award as “Legal Services Provider of the Year, ” “Best Law Firm for Alternative Assets,” “Best Onshore Law Firm, Asia (ex-Japan)” and “Best Onshore Law Firm for Asset Management in Japan.” The team was also named by Asian Legal Business as “Investment Funds Law Firm of the Year” in 2017, 2016, and 2014.
Effie is recognized as an expert by Who's Who Legal: Thought Leaders — Hong Kong 2020 and Who's Who Legal Private Funds: Formation 2022. Effie was also honored with the “Gold Award” at The Law Society of Hong Kong’s Pro Bono and Community Work Recognition Programme 2019 and 2020.