Thao is a member of Reed Smith’s Private Equity Group and has a corporate, securities, and investment management practice. He has assisted clients in the development and registration of new investment companies and alternative investment products, as well as the formation and registration of investment advisory firms. Thao has extensive experience counseling clients with the formation and day-to-day operations of hedge funds, both domestic and offshore. He has counseled clients with CFTC rules relating to CPO and CTA registration, and the formation of commodity pools. Thao has also provided counsel to mutual fund boards, federal and state registered investment advisers, and broker-dealers. He is a frequent speaker on investment company and investment advisory legal issues.
Interests
Thao currently serves on the Board of Lambda Legal, one of the nation's leading civil rights organizations. Previously, he served on the Board of Directors of AIDS Legal Referral Panel, which provides free and low-cost legal assistance and education on any civil matter to persons living with HIV/AIDS. He was also the President of the Board of Directors of Dolores Street Community Services, which provides housing to low-wage earners living in San Francisco.