We at The Capital Commitment blog have previously discussed several steps for fund managers and others to weather the storm brought by COVID-19.  One of those steps is assessing the likelihood of a carried interest return obligation under a fund agreement’s general partner clawback provision (and planning for how to mitigate those obligations, if necessary).  A recent article from our colleagues in Proskauer’s Private Funds group highlights the important role that general partner clawbacks play in ensuring the economic deal between a fund manager and the fund’s limited partners is protected, regardless of how market disruptions, such as those brought on by COVID-19, impact a fund’s portfolio.

As detailed in that article, a boom-bust cycle may result in a general partner receiving more than its agreed-upon share of a fund’s cumulative profits if initial investments resulted in large profits, but later investments lose value or are written off entirely.  If distributions of carried interest made early in the life of a fund result in a general partner receiving a total share of the fund’s aggregate profits greater than what was agreed upon with the investors at the fund’s outset, the excess must be returned to the fund for distribution to the limited partners.  It is important to note that general partner clawbacks can and do happen, even for successful funds and for funds that return full contributions back to investors before making carried interest distributions, which is why it is important for all general partners to analyze and plan for a potential return obligation.

Returning carried interest under a clawback obligation can often be complex and painful, as general partners ordinarily distribute carried interest out to their individual members and other carry recipients on or shortly after receipt.  Clawback provisions, on the other hand, are not typically applied until the end of a fund’s life, meaning that several years may pass between distributions of carried interest and the final calculation determining whether excess profits have been received by the general partner.  Asking individuals to return money they received several years prior, and likely have already spent, is very difficult and may increase the potential for disputes between the individual members of the general partner, particularly those who may have already departed the firm.  Fund sponsors that are considering fundraising in the near future should recognize that limited partners will be very interested in whether a sponsor’s prior funds are facing potential clawbacks and what plans the sponsor has to help mitigate and manage those obligations.

Effective communication between and among a general partner and its limited partners, as well as between the individual members of a fund sponsor, are of the utmost importance in managing carried interest clawback risk and avoiding potential disputes.  For more, please check out our colleagues’ recently published article, and watch here for future updates as we continue to monitor disputes and litigation arising from the impacts of COVID-19.

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Proskauer’s cross-disciplinary, cross-jurisdictional Coronavirus Response Team is focused on supporting and addressing client concerns. Visit our Coronavirus Resource Center for guidance on risk management measures, practical steps businesses can take and resources to help manage ongoing operations.

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Photo of James Anderson James Anderson

Jim Anderson is a litigator and trial lawyer. His practice focuses on complex commercial litigation involving leading technology and pharmaceutical companies, as well as private equity, private credit, and venture funds. Jim leverages his technological background and expertise to represent clients in high-stakes…

Jim Anderson is a litigator and trial lawyer. His practice focuses on complex commercial litigation involving leading technology and pharmaceutical companies, as well as private equity, private credit, and venture funds. Jim leverages his technological background and expertise to represent clients in high-stakes business and intellectual property disputes.

Jim has experience litigating cases for clients in the life sciences, biotech, software, consumer electronics, and financial services industries.  Jim has also handled lawsuits for venture and hedge funds, and real estate clients.   He has litigated cases in courts throughout the United States, as well as before the International Trade Commission and Patent Trial and Appeal Board.  He has also represented foreign and domestic companies in disputes before international arbitration tribunals under ICC and CPR Rules.

In addition to his commercial litigation practice, Jim counsels and advises private equity and private credit clients in fund-fund, lender-sponsor, and portfolio company disputes.  Jim leverages his courtroom experience to help these clients navigate regulatory and litigation risks.

Jim also advises clients on intellectual property strategy spanning the full range of patent, trademark, and trade secret protections. He has developed and maintained intellectual property portfolios in a broad range of industries, including consumer products, medical devices, machining and fabrication equipment, and semiconductor devices. Jim is registered to practice before the USPTO.

Jim also maintains an active pro bono practice. He has received awards for his work on behalf of victims of domestic violence and abuse.

Jim has a background in Mechanical Engineering, with a focus on energy, power, and fuel cell technologies. Prior to his career at Proskauer, Jim served as a judicial intern in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut and represented clients with the UConn Intellectual Property and Entrepreneurship Law Clinic.

Photo of Timothy W. Mungovan Timothy W. Mungovan

Tim Mungovan is the Chair of Proskauer.  He is also the immediate past chair of the Firm’s Litigation Department and head of the Securities Litigation practice.

His practice is focused on securities, commercial litigation, governance, and bankruptcy-related matters. He has a national reputation…

Tim Mungovan is the Chair of Proskauer.  He is also the immediate past chair of the Firm’s Litigation Department and head of the Securities Litigation practice.

His practice is focused on securities, commercial litigation, governance, and bankruptcy-related matters. He has a national reputation for advising sponsors of private investment funds (hedge, private equity, private credit and venture capital) in a wide variety of matters, including litigation, governance, securities, fiduciary obligations, and regulatory enforcement.

Chambers USA describes Tim as “an extraordinary lawyer who is a fierce and very talented litigator. He is extremely knowledgeable, responsive and client-oriented.” Best Lawyers in America lauds Tim’s experience, integrity, work ethic, communications and courtroom skills. Tim has been listed in the “Top 100 Lawyers” in Massachusetts, and Benchmark Litigation has continually recognized Tim as a Litigation Star in Massachusetts.

Over the last six years, Tim has been the lead litigator representing the Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico in the historic restructuring of Puerto Rico’s debts. The scale and complexity of this restructuring has resulted in one of the most active litigation dockets in the U.S. Almost every aspect of the litigation involved matters of first impression in part because the restructuring is governed by the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act, which was enacted for Puerto Rico in 2016.  The track record of success speaks for itself:  in the more than 150 lawsuits filed, Tim and the Proskauer team have prevailed in almost 95% of the cases.

Tim is recognized nationally for his experience in private fund litigation and disputes, having focused on the industry for more than 25 years.  As part of that focus, Tim created and is the lead editor of Proskauer’s blog on Private Equity litigation, The Capital Commitment.

Photo of Howard J. Beber Howard J. Beber

Howard J. Beber is a partner in the Corporate Department and co-head of the Private Funds Group, which is recognized by Chambers GlobalChambers USA and US Legal 500. His practice focuses on representing private equity funds and institutional investors on…

Howard J. Beber is a partner in the Corporate Department and co-head of the Private Funds Group, which is recognized by Chambers GlobalChambers USA and US Legal 500. His practice focuses on representing private equity funds and institutional investors on a broad range of issues including fund formations, secondary transactions and portfolio investments.

Howard is actively involved in all stages of fund formation and fund sponsor representation, counseling on terms and marketing strategy, preparing offering documents, negotiating with placement agents, drafting partnership and general partner documents, negotiating with investors and providing advice on internal general partner and management company issues. His clients range from newly formed firms to a number of leading firms in the private equity industry. In addition, he routinely represents some of the most active institutional and fund-of-fund investors when investing in venture capital, buyout, real estate and other private investment funds, as well as co-investment transactions. Howard also represents institutional investors in connection with the acquisition and sale of partnership interests on the secondary market and has worked with several management teams on large spin-out transactions.

Photo of Michael R. Hackett Michael R. Hackett

Mike Hackett is a partner in the Litigation Department and Co-Head of the Asset Management Litigation practice. An experienced litigator and trial lawyer, Mike’s practice focuses on complex commercial litigation, with a particular emphasis on asset management, financial services, M&A, shareholder, and life…

Mike Hackett is a partner in the Litigation Department and Co-Head of the Asset Management Litigation practice. An experienced litigator and trial lawyer, Mike’s practice focuses on complex commercial litigation, with a particular emphasis on asset management, financial services, M&A, shareholder, and life sciences disputes.

A significant portion of Mike’s practice concerns disputes and regulation involving private funds, including private equity, venture capital, hedge, real estate and private credit funds, as well as their sponsors, partners, investors, portfolio companies, and officers and directors. Mike’s experience representing private fund clients runs the gamut, from control contests within advisers, to disputes between limited partners and general partners, to representation of investment advisers in connection with regulatory examinations, investigations and enforcement matters. Mike routinely represents funds, fund sponsors, portfolio companies, and their officers and directors, including in significant post-closing M&A disputes.

Mike also litigates high-stakes commercial disputes in the life sciences and financial services areas, including for established pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, emerging and innovative start-ups, asset managers, and other private capital investors, in areas such as M&A, breach of contract, indemnification, fraud, contested earnouts and royalties, securities and capital markets, and corporate governance.

Mike has been recognized by Chambers USA and was named a “Rising Star” by Massachusetts Super Lawyers.