DUBLIN–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Leading international financial law firm Walkers is pleased to announce the launch of its AIFMD Centre, which acts as a central resource of information relevant to the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD) – the most significant piece of legislation for the funds industry in Europe since the creation of the UCITS product.

“With the implementation deadline now past, Walkers’ AIFMD specialists can provide asset managers with the right AIFMD solutions they require, both onshore and offshore.”

The AIFMD Centre – compiled by Walkers’ AIFMD experts – brings together a collection of AIFMD factsheets, key AIFMD legislation, guidance from the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) and relevant client advisories produced by the team at Walkers on this topical issue.

The AIFMD Centre contains information relevant to funds domiciled in the Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands, Jersey and Ireland, which will be regularly updated. The AIFMD Centre has been created specifically for Walkers’ clients, active in the investment fund industry, however parties interested in the impact of the AIFMD legislation may access the majority of the information using the following link: http://www.walkersglobal.com/Pages/AIFMD.aspx?AIFMD=1&Lang=1033.

“We are delighted to announce the launch of our AIFMD Centre and we invite all members of the investment fund community with interests in marketing funds in the European Union to make use of the materials included,” commented Paul Farrell, a partner with Walkers based in the firm’s Irish office. “With the implementation deadline now past, Walkers’ AIFMD specialists can provide asset managers with the right AIFMD solutions they require, both onshore and offshore.”

The AIFMD seeks to regulate the marketing and/or management of funds across the EU. For the first time, both EU and offshore hedge fund managers will be required to seek authorisation from EU regulatory authorities and undertake a business impact analysis for all the funds that they manage and/or market across the EU. Hedge funds will also be able to benefit from a pan-European passport to market their units to professional investors across the EU, which is currently available to EU managers with EU funds and will potentially be available from 22 July 2015 to offshore managers and their funds.

About Walkers

From offices in the British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dubai, Ireland, Hong Kong, Jersey, London and Singapore, Walkers provides legal services to leading FORTUNE 100 and FTSE 100 global corporations and financial institutions, capital markets participants, investment fund managers, and growth-and middle-market companies.

Walkers’ expertise has been validated by numerous awards including “Offshore Law Firm of the Year” by Alpha Magazine, The Lawyer, PLC Which Lawyer? and Asian Legal Business. Walkers has also been honoured as the PLC Which Lawyer? Yearbook Leading Cayman Islands Law Firm, Who’s Who Legal Law Firm of the Year: Cayman Islands and has shared honours for “Offshore Legal Team of the Year” by the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP).

For more information on the Walkers group, visit us on the web at www.walkersglobal.com or contact us by e-mail at [email protected]. To contact Walkers by phone, call our Irish office at +1 353 1 470 6600.