Kelley M. Bender

Kelley Bender is Chapman's Chief Operating Partner and a member of the Corporate and Securities Department and Private Funds Group and Investment Management Group. She primarily represents institutional investors of private equity funds, hedge funds, real estate funds, infrastructure funds, collective investment trusts, and other private investment funds. Kelley has assisted clients looking to maintain greater control over their investment assets in negotiating separately managed accounts with large asset managers, as well as creating unique fund-of-one structures. She also represents select sponsors of private investment funds, often in niche areas such as social impact investing and marketplace lending. Kelley is a regular speaker at legal and industry conferences on private fund and partnership/LLC matters.

Kelley also advises the firm’s registered investment adviser and investment company clients on a variety of matters, including fund formation and regulatory compliance. In particular, she has extensive experience advising on the development and operation of exchange-traded funds.

Kelley started her career in the Tax Department at Chapman where she provided tax planning assistance to the firm’s institutional clients, particularly in the areas of lending, partnerships, investment companies, equipment leasing and employee benefits.

Kelley has held a number of Chapman leadership roles, including serving as a member of the Policy Committee and of the Executive Committee supporting the firm’s technology and innovation efforts, serving as chair of the Employment Committee, and helping establish Chapman's Finance Law Development Program, an innovative legal talent pipeline program. She is also active in the firm's pro bono and charitable initiatives.

Notable Engagements