Akin Gump has announced that William K. Wetmore has rejoined the firm as a partner in its investment management practice in San Francisco after serving as chief compliance officer for a large hedge fund advisor. Mr. Wetmore began his legal career as an associate with the firm in 2007 and served as senior regulatory counsel prior to moving in-house.
Mr. Wetmore has extensive experience advising activist hedge funds, other hedge and private equity funds, and public companies on securities law compliance, corporate governance matters, securities resales, contract drafting, and securities issues related to mergers and acquisitions. His practice includes crafting strategies for compliance with Sections 13(d) and 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, assisting with litigation strategy and providing guidance on pleadings for Section 16 short-swing trading liability cases, structuring takeovers and private placements to reduce Section 16 exposure, and reviewing client corporate governance policies and advising on governance best practices.
“We are very pleased William is rejoining us, particularly at a time when our clients are facing new and complex regulations and increased scrutiny from the SEC,” said Akin Gump chairperson Kim Koopersmith. “He returns with valuable in-house perspective and firsthand experience of the specific needs and concerns of our funds, private equity and corporate clients.”
Mr. Wetmore strengthens a deep bench of the firm’s funds lawyers serving clients in the United States, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Mr. Wetmore’s arrival represents a further buildout of Akin Gump’s investment management regulatory and compliance practice and its growing presence on the West Coast.
Prakash Mehta, co-head of Akin Gump’s investment management practice said, “William’s extensive experience, particularly in the highly complex and technical areas of Sections 13 and 16, and his understanding of applicable SEC rules and case law will be particularly valuable to our clients in the current regulatory environment.”
Mr. Wetmore added “I am thrilled to come back to the firm where I began my career and am looking forward to rejoining this team—one of the leading funds regulatory and compliance practices with experience across multiple jurisdictions.”
Founded in 1945, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP is a leading international law firm with more than 900 lawyers in offices throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.