Thomas R. Westle

Thomas Westle provides counsel to registered and unregistered investment companies, independent boards of directors/trustees of registered investment companies and business development companies, and investment advisers. He serves as co-chair of the firm's Investment Management group, and focuses his practice on the following areas:

• Registration, regulation, corporate governance, reorganizations and mergers of investment companies including open-end, closed-end, and business development companies as well as investment advisers
• Representation of independent boards of directors/trustees of investment companies
• Representation of investment companies and independent boards of directors/trustees in SEC examinations and enforcement actions
• Representation of investment companies, independent boards of directors/trustees, and investment advisers regarding reorganizations, mergers and acquisitions
• Preparation of SEC exemptive applications and no-action letters
• Financing transactions relating to closed-end investment companies including interval funds and business development companies
• Creation and organization of private investment funds and hedge funds

Tom serves as underwriters counsel to Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc. with respect to numerous equity and debt financing transactions for new and existing closed-end investment companies and business development companies.

Chambers USA quotes a source saying that clients “benefit from his years of experience and extensive network. He is thoughtful and commercial.” Another states, “Thomas is very skilled at handling difficult, nuanced situations where clients needs an expert in the room.”

Tom authors Blank Rome’s quarterly Fund and Investment Management Regulatory Update and Recent SEC Actions publication.

Tom organizes and is a featured speaker at Blank Rome’s recurring Chief Compliance Officer’s Roundtable in New York, NY.

• AV Preeminent®, listed in Martindale-Hubbell®
• 2025–2026, Registered Funds – USA, listed in Chambers Global
• 2024–2026, Registered Funds – Nationwide, listed in Chambers USA
• 2013, “Top Rated Lawyer in Securities Law” listed in the September issue of The American Lawyer & Corporate Counsel magazine