The global fund finance market has seen continued growth within 2025. Behind these financial developments, there lies a critical enabler of this evolution – the legal expertise required to assist fund finance transactions. As fund managers, banks and investors seek to navigate a more sophisticated and dynamic market, the need for fund finance lawyers has never been greater.
Growth Within the Market
The fund finance market has expanded rapidly over recent years, fuelled by rising institutional acceptance of products such as NAV (Net Asset Value) facilities, hybrid credit lines and GP or management company financings. Once seen as niche, these tools are now perceived as integral components of private market liquidity strategies.
The Institutional Limited Partners Association (ILPA) published its guidelines on the use of NAV lending, providing visibility for investors and sponsors. Meanwhile, non-bank lenders and insurance capital are bringing new sources of liquidity into the system, propelling market growth towards the multi-trillion dollar-threshold.
Regional Divergence
In the U.S., the normalization of subscription finance and growth in NAV-based lending have sustained a healthy pipeline of fund finance legal work. In comparison, in Europe, the evolution of hybrid and ESG-linked structures, coupled with regulatory market frameworks in France and the UK, is reshaping the talent landscape for in-house and private practice roles alike. Notably, in Asia, fund finance is still maturing, with rising interest in NAV and hybrid facilities creating growing demand for lawyers with both local and international expertise. This global view reinforces the need for lawyers who can operate across jurisdictions, matching their legal talent to the unique demands of each market.
Looking Ahead
With estimates placing the market’s potential value above $2.5 trillion by 2030, the sector’s continued success will depend on its ability to manage legal, regulatory and structural complexity effectively.
This makes fund finance lawyers central to the market’s future. From advising on NAV facilities for continuation vehicles, or advising insurers on fund-linked instruments, specialist legal advice ensures the smooth operation of an increasingly complex global ecosystem.
Please do get in touch with us to discuss opportunities that can place you at the forefront of one of the most intellectually rich sectors in finance.
