Mara Topping

Clients benefit from Mara's extensive experience in the formation, structuring and issuance of securities by private equity investment vehicles. She represents investment managers, sponsors and investors, including high-net-worth individuals, banks and other institutional investors, as well as international and development financial institutions. Mara delivers hands-on knowledge and experience setting up and organizing joint ventures, investment companies, private equity funds, real estate funds and asset management companies, both restricted and open-ended. Her work spans a broad range of business sectors and international markets. She has formed private equity vehicles targeting investments in Africa, the Middle East, East Asia, South Asia (India and Pakistan) and Latin America. Her significant track record in this area has made her a valued asset for private equity vehicles focused on the microcap, smallcap and midcap sectors. Mara provides insight and rigor across an array of transactions, including the acquisition of distressed assets, investments in financial institutions, infrastructure, sustainable technologies, biodiversity sectors, expansions, reconstructions or reorganizations (including privatizations), management buy-ins, as well as investments which combine both financial and social/developmental returns. Clients including the US Overseas Private Investment Corporation, the Inter-American Development Bank and other development financial institutions look to Mara for her extensive experience structuring investment funds which include one or more debt tranches at the fund level. She also helps to structure funds which incorporate debt financing from private commercial banks. In addition, Mara offers perceptive and valuable guidance to clients seeking advice on hedge funds (with and without sidecars), venture capital funds and funds of funds.