Bar Admissions

North Carolina

Education

University of Virginia, J.D., 1996, Order of the Coif; Editorial Board, Virginia Law Review, 1994-96

University of Virginia, B.A., with distinction, 1993, Phi Beta Kappa, Jefferson Scholar

Profile

Rick Starling practices primarily in the areas of investment management, private equity, and general corporate and commercial law. He co-chairs the firm’s Fund Formation and Investment Management Practice Group, where he represents fund managers in their fund offerings; institutional investors in their investments in private funds and other assets; and a variety of clients with respect to regulatory, internal governance and structural issues unique to the investment management industry. Rick works with all types of private funds, including buyout, venture capital, secondary, hedge, hybrid, real estate, co-investment and fund of funds.

His recent representative transactions include offerings for a lower middle-market buyout fund, a fund of hedge funds, a captive strategic growth fund, a real estate recapitalization and a small hedge fund, and numerous investments by institutional investors in a wide variety of hedge, private equity and other funds.

Rick also represents clients in a variety of other investment and corporate transactions, and, as an extension of his transactional work, he regularly advises clients on business formations, significant commercial contracts and other general legal matters.

Honors & Awards

Experience

Experience

  • Represented a fund manager in connection with the formation of a middle-market buyout fund with over $650 million in investor commitments.

  • Represented a fund manager in connection with the formation of a lower middle-market buyout fund targeting $100 million in investor commitments.

  • Represented a real estate firm in connection with the recapitalization of two portfolios of commercial office and industrial properties and the offering of over $50 million in equity interests therein.

  • Represented an investment adviser in connection with the formation of a small hedge fund implementing the adviser's established investment strategy.

  • Represented a multifamily office in connection with the establishment of a fund of hedge funds targeting $100 million in investor subscriptions.

  • Represented the majority owners of a health care technology company in the recapitalization and sale of the company to a strategic buyer for $63 million.

  • Represented a captive fund manager in its spinout from a leading financial institution.

  • Represents several clients with their registration as investment advisers, including the preparation and filing of Form ADV, the drafting of compliance manuals, codes of ethics and other materials, and working with regulators on compliance issues.

  • Handles numerous secondary transactions involving interests in private equity funds, and in some cases, also involving the formation of special purpose acquisition vehicles structured as funds.

News & Events

News

Events

Insights

Affiliations

Professional Affiliations

  • North Carolina Bar Association, Business Law Section, Securities Regulation Committee, Chairman, 2011-present
  • North Carolina Bar Association, Business Law Section, Dodd-Frank Investment Advisory Task Force, Organizer and Chairman, 2011-13
  • American Bar Association, Committee on Institutional Investors
  • Council of Institutional Investors
  • Law Clerk, The Honorable Richard L. Williams, Eastern District, Virginia, 1996-97
  • National Association of Public Pension Attorneys

Community Affiliations

  • Jefferson Scholars Regional Selection Committee, Member, 2003-present; Chairman, 2011-present
  • Community School of the Arts, Board of Directors, 2015-present
  • Christ Episcopal Church Worship Band, 2011-present
  • Charlotte Museum of History, Board of Trustees, 2008-11
  • Inventors’ Network of the Carolinas, Steering Committee and Board Member, 2004-08
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