Langham Hall has long worked with North American fund managers, supported by established teams in New York, London and Luxembourg, and across our global platform. We support an established and growing base of North American managers across fund administration, depositary and AIFMD services, combining on-the-ground market context with cross-jurisdiction delivery.

Nick Ware is a Senior Manager at Langham Hall and has spent the past six months based in New York, as part of our transatlantic client team, working closely with colleagues across jurisdictions to support US managers considering Europe.

In this spotlight, Nick reflects on what has stood out since being on the ground — from the pace of decision-making to the small, human factors that shape how cross-border work really happens in practice.

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Being on US time changes the rhythm

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After years of supporting US conversations through regular transatlantic travel, being based full-time in New York has shifted the rhythm of the working day.

“Being on US time makes a real difference,” he says. “You are part of conversations as they happen, not picking them up the next morning.”

That immediacy matters in early discussions with US managers considering Europe. Many conversations now start well before a formal fundraising process, with questions focused on structure, timing and practicality.

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What US managers ask first about Europe

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“The most common questions are still about routes into Europe,” Nick explains. “When does a Luxembourg structure make sense? What are the implications? And increasingly, what are peers doing?”

A lot of what Nick hears is not theoretical. It is practical: timing, sequence and what can be done now, as well as what needs to be built later as the investor base evolves. Managers also want to sanity-check what is becoming more common in the market and what still tends to be treated as bespoke.

Where relevant, Nick helps managers map European oversight requirements onto their structure. That includes the depositary, an independent oversight function with defined duties under European rules, as well as Annex IV reporting throughout Europe.

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Early planning often determines whether momentum builds or stalls

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“European registrations take time, but pre-marketing has changed how managers approach this. Teams can test interest earlier, focus effort where there is real demand and only register once conviction builds. That preparation keeps things moving.”

From a delivery perspective, Nick sees small early decisions making a disproportionate difference. Aligning the access route, expectations and timelines early helps teams avoid duplication later and keeps the process coherent across jurisdictions.

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New York pace and the reality of time zones

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What has stood out most since being on the ground is pace.

“Work here moves quickly. Client service expectations are high and turnaround times are short,” Nick says. “Being available when questions arise, rather than a day later, makes a tangible difference – particularly once Europe has logged off.”

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A smaller market than it looks

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There is also a strong sense of proximity within the industry. “You bump into the market constantly, especially around midtown. It is a smaller world than it looks, and word travels fast. Consistency and follow-through really matter.”

Across all of this, Nick sees a common theme. “There is a real appetite for growth. US managers are looking outward and Europe is firmly part of that conversation. The challenge is making sure the operating model keeps up with the ambition.”

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What good looks like in practice

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Themes Nick sees consistently:

• Teams engage Europe early enough to make pre-marketing useful, rather than reactive
• The access route and its practical implications are agreed up front, not mid-process
• Cross-time-zone coordination is structured so decisions, documentation and next steps stay aligned

For Nick, the value of being on the ground is simple: fewer delays, cleaner decision-making and more continuity as early conversations become live processes.

Based in New York, Nick works alongside teams in London, Luxembourg, the US and across the group to keep transatlantic delivery aligned, from early structuring conversations through to oversight and reporting.

If Europe is on the horizon for your next raise, our team is always happy to compare notes on what we are seeing in the market and how managers are approaching timing, structure and execution. For now, Nick is focused on keeping the transatlantic handover points clean, so clients can move at the pace they need.