Élise Renaud, partner and member of Fasken’s investment products and wealth management group, has an in-depth knowledge of the laws and regulations applicable to the Canadian wealth management and financial services industry. Élise acknowledges the importance of this industry within Canadian society and respects the role of the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) and self-regulatory organizations (SRO) in protecting Canadian investors. She has been recognized by :
- Chambers as leading lawyer in Investment Funds,
- The Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory in the area of Investment Funds and Asset Management
- Best Lawyers in Private Funds Law.
Élise’s practice focuses on the regulatory environment governing the daily activities of dealers, portfolio managers and investment fund managers. She also advises clients during transactions outside the ordinary course of business, in particular when selling or purchasing assets under management or administration or establishing partnerships. In addition, Élise advises portfolio managers and dealers subject to National Instrument 93-101 Derivatives : Business Conduct and/or registered under the Derivatives Act (Québec).
In addition to providing advice to registrants on registration, governance and compliance, Élise advises fund managers on creating investment funds, distributing securities of their funds and during the daily administration and management of the investment funds. She helps clients deploy diverse investment strategies aimed at retail and/or institutional investors, including ESG factors. As such, she prepares constating and continuous disclosure documents to establish and distribute investment funds. She supports managers when implementing derivative-based strategies. Élise also obtains, on behalf of the registrants and investment funds she represents, exemptions from regulatory obligations.
Élise is often asked to interpret rules and guidelines issued by the CSA, Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO) and the Chambre de la sécurité financière, including regulations governing sales practices and conflict of interest matters.
Élise’s services are also sought by clients concerning all aspects of derivatives, including negotiations with counterparties, derivatives compliance documentation and procedures (including obligations pertaining to data reporting and central clearing of OTC derivatives).
Élise is regularly asked to provide dynamic and interactive seminars and training sessions to registrants, their representatives, employees, and directors, as well as members of independent review committees of investment funds on various compliance and regulatory matters including conflicts of interests.
Élise works to advance the Canadian portfolio management industry. She is a member of the Board of Governors, the Governance Committee and the Regulatory Watch Committee of the Conseil des fonds d’investissement du Québec and actively supports the activities of the Emerging Managers Board as well as the Portfolio Management Association of Canada. Élise regularly speaks on behalf of the portfolio management and investment fund industries during CSA or SRO public consultations on new regulatory initiatives..
Finally, Élise leads a team of professionals offering registration services as well as advice relating to compliance with securities laws and regulations applicable to entities acting as portfolio managers, dealers or investment fund managers. For more information about the services offered by this team please visit the Securities Registrant Compliance group page.
