M. Holland West, Principal

Expertise and Experience

Holland West is the managing principal of Topsail Insights LLC, a boutique strategic services firm that advises and assists selected for-profit and not-for-profit organizations globally on diverse business, commercial, and financial services matters, as well as provides related educational and training services and certain charitable and public services.

Mr. West is a highly recognized and respected expert and industry leader who, in his 48 plus years of diverse and significant experience in Wall Street and international finance, has served as lawyer, advisor, board member, author, and academic.  He has focused his professional services on investment management, corporate finance, capital markets, derivative, and commodity matters for leading companies worldwide in both the financial services industry and the end-user community, providing clients with: product development; strategic, operational, and transaction assistance; legal, regulatory, policy, risk management, and compliance counseling and solutions; development of best practices; crisis and disruption management; dispute resolution; and directorships. 

Mr. West formed Topsail Insights upon retirement from his New York City law practice.  Previously, he had been head of global asset management, commodity, derivative, and structured finance practices at three leading international law firms (Dechert LLP, Shearman & Sterling LLP, and Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP). He also previously was Assistant General Counsel for Goldman, Sachs & Co., advising on its new products, equities and debt, capital markets, derivatives, and commodities businesses.

Mr. West has advised and assisted on the structuring, formation, operation, and management of a wide range of U.S. and foreign private and public investment funds, vehicles, and accounts for traditional and alternative assets, such as: hedge funds; commodity pools; private equity, venture capital, buyout, debt, credit, and real estate funds; funds-of-funds; CDOs, CLOs, and other securitization vehicles; exchange-traded funds, notes, and other products; mutual funds; business development companies; small business investment companies; separately managed accounts; and joint ventures.

Mr. West also has advised and assisted on U.S. and foreign capital market, structured product, derivative, commodity, and energy matters, including development, structuring, and execution of complex exchange-traded and over-the-counter financing, derivative, and securitization techniques, products, and structures.

Education

Sewanee (The University of the South), B.A., English Literature, 1975, Phi Beta Kappa, with honors
Fordham University School of Law, J.D., 1980, with honors, Associate Editor of Fordham Law Review

Bar Admissions

New York (Retired)
New Jersey (Retired)
Florida (Retired)

Other Activities

Mr. West has been a member of, and advisor and attorney to, numerous public, private, industry, trade group, professional association, not-for-profit, and civic boards, committees, task forces, and capital campaigns.  He is a frequent speaker, lecturer, and author on investment management, financial product, derivative, commodity, and regulatory, risk management, and compliance matters, including at industry, regulatory, compliance, professional association, and academic programs and for their publications, and at law, business, and undergraduate schools.  He also is a frequent author and commentator on industry matters for the media (print, video, audio, and electronic).

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