Maxwell J. Black
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
Contact: P /612.604.6583E /[email protected]
Education
Boston College Law School, J.D., 2022
Harvard University, A.B., Philosophy, English honors, 2018
Bar Admissions
Massachusetts, 2022
Minnesota, 2025
My Approach
My participation in theater pushed me out of my comfort zone and taught me to adapt and improvise – often (much to my chagrin) while a crowd was watching. Without a doubt, this training influenced the way I practice law and encouraged me to think on creatively while working with the core tenets of the law. After years of experience, I know without a doubt, that I’m able to get from point A to point B without any instruction manual and that I can work (and, more importantly connect) with absolutely anyone. Listening to my clients, learning their business, and strategizing with them for the future are some of the most enjoyable aspects of my role as legal counsel.
I love knowing that my work helps bring businesses to life. My practice involves the structuring of investment funds for startups, early-stage, and emerging companies, often with large institutional sponsors, and counseling my clients through subsequent compliance matters. I appreciate being involved in the early phases of a business’s trajectory, where I can bring industry insight and legal perspective, all while setting my clients up for long-term success.
I also advise clients looking to implement digital asset strategies (like asset tokenization) along with tailor-made AI solutions. For businesses looking to dip their toes into these new markets and technologies, a lack of understanding can be intimidating. I help my clients view these industries and their governing regulations through a practical lens, helping to dispel their fears and navigate a path forward.
Outside the office, I try to spend as much time as possible outdoors—hiking and downhill skiing are a few favorites. I also love to read, sing, and hang out at live concerts.
A Global Perspective
After having grown up in a small town in rural Pennsylvania, I knew I was ready to leave home and explore the world immediately following my graduation from high school. I spent the year after graduation as an exchange student in Lorraine, where I learned how to connect across cultures and fine-tuned my French. I like to keep my skills sharp through written translations, and I am currently working on a translation of Naïveté du rire by a favorite author, René Girard.
Ayant grandi dans une toute petite ville de la Pennsylvanie, j’ai su que j’étais prêt à quitter mon foyer pour explorer le monde après le lycée. J’ai donc passé une année comme élève d’échange en Lorraine; j’y ai appris à nouer des liens interculturels et à améliorer ma maîtrise du français. Pour entretenir ces compétences linguistiques, je pratique la traduction écrite et travaille actuellement à celle de l’ouvrage Naïveté du rire de René Girard, un auteur que j’apprécie particulièrement.
Practice Areas
Practicing Securities & Corporate Finance
My Experience
I represent clients on registered funds compliance, including tender offer, interval, and private credit funds, and advise on operational, regulatory, and disclosure requirements under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the Securities Act of 1933. I routinely advise on the formation and structuring of private funds (on both the buy and sell sides), fund mergers and reorganizations, and other fund considerations, including terms, governance provisions, and investor rights. I also represent clients on revolving credit facilities and relating financing instruments, including mezzanine financing and bridge loans. I am also experienced in digital asset strategies, including cross-chain token custody and Ether-denominated bond offerings, and counsel clients on emerging crypto regulations.
Representative Matters
- Served as lead associate on the internal merger of a $15.3 billion fund into a $21.4 billion fund for a major asset management client. Oversaw regulatory compliance, shareholder outreach, and complex fund-of-funds structures, coordinating cross-functional teams to ensure seamless execution.
- Represented a large institutional client in structuring and negotiating a $300 million credit facility. Addressed unique collateral and liquidity challenges involving multiple parties, demonstrating advanced transactional structuring and negotiation skills.
- Led the formation and sponsor structuring of an impact fund for a large institutional client. Developed innovative solutions to address legal, political, and social risks, and structured the fund to protect the client’s interests against potential liabilities.
- Managed the restructuring of a $270 million closed-end interval fund with a diversified private credit strategy. Coordinated with multiple subadvisors to refine investment strategies and ensure compliance and operational stability.
- Guided a client through the process of tokenizing shares of a money market fund for use as collateral on a trading platform. Provided comprehensive legal and regulatory analysis, leveraging blockchain expertise to advance the client’s and firm’s capabilities.