Stephen Etkind

|Partner

As responsible partner, Stephen oversaw the cross-listing of iShares from the USA to Australia, the first cross-listing of exchange traded funds. Since then, Minter Ellison has developed a strong team in the ETF sphere, currently spearheaded by Stuart Johnson and Michael Lawson. In 2010, he co-authored together with Ashley Dayman of Minter Ellison, the Australian chapter of 'Exchange Traded Funds in Asia' published by Courses and Seminars Limited.

More than 25 years in practice, Stephen provides expert funds management advice to leading Australian, global and foreign funds managers and investment advisers. Stephen has recognised expertise in establishing funds management products, including regulated funds, wholesale and institutional funds, alternative investment vehicles, investment management, global funds management and other financial products such as derivatives and contracts for difference. He also advises trustees and custodians on trusts and other investment products, as well as advising on trust mergers and company and trust floats on the Australian Stock Exchange.

A funds management expert, Stephen has specialised in the establishment and promotion of wholesale funds for more than 25 years. He represents leading Australian and global funds managers and investment advisers including Cohen Steers and T Rowe Price, Bank of New York Mellon. BlackRock/Barclays Global Investors, Colonial First State Investments, Maple-Brown Abbott, ipac/AXA, Perpetual Trustees, Trust Company/Permanent Trustee Company, Australian Unity Property, Abacus Property Group, and Fidelity.

Through his long involvement with the International Bar Association, Stephen has developed a thorough knowledge of offshore funds established in the USA, UK, and European Union. He has a keen understanding of both the issues affecting operators and distributors of those funds as well as the issues involved in the distribution of those funds in Australia. Stephen represents a broad range of global investment managers who conduct fund distribution, marketing and investment management activities either in Australia or with Australian clients.

Stephen is a pre-eminent figure in the real estate investment trust arena. He helped pioneer the establishment of Australian Property Syndicates under the REIT structure, firstly with Abacus Property Group and Paladin Group, and then with Investa. He now provides significant A REIT product and structuring advice, including restructures and mergers of property investment trusts. His clients in this area include Australian Unity, BlackRock, Abacus Property Group and Cromwell.

Stephen has more than 25 years’ specialised experience in the establishment and promotion of regulated funds. While these funds are typically offered to retail clients, they are also available to institutional clients and placed on platforms. Stephen’s clients in this category include leading Australian brands such as BlackRock/Barclays Global Investors, Colonial First State Investments, Maple-Brown Abbott, ipac/AXA, Perpetual Trustees, Trust Company/Permanent Trustee Company, Tasmanian Perpetual Trustees (now part of My State Financial), Ventura Funds Management, Australian Unity Property, Abacus Property Group, and Fidelity.

Stephen also has specialist expertise in ancillary investment products such as investor directed portfolio services (IDPS), separately managed accounts (SMAs/IMAs), managed discretionary accounts (MDAs), and similar products and services designed mainly for the retail market.

Stephen advises clients on varied structured products and hedge funds, such as total or absolute return funds, long/short funds, alternative investment and similar investment vehicles and similar investment vehicles. His clients have included Barclays Global Investors (now BlackRock), ipac, and Brookvine. A former long-serving head of the firm’s Investment and Financial Services team, Stephen often plays a support role to Minter Ellison’s specialised hedge funds practice headed by Nathan Cahill.