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Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld has strengthened its investment funds practice with the hiring of a partner who has provided counsel to both start-up and highly experienced fund managers.

Kelli I. Moll comes to the firm''s New York office from Schulte Roth & Zabel, which she joined in November 1996. Prior to Schulte, Moll held positions at Stroock & Stroock & Lavan and, before that, at the First National Bank of Chicago, after earning her J.D. at Loyola University Chicago School of Law.

During her tenure at Schulte, Moll offered counsel to investment managers on a broad range of transactional and regulatory matters. A number of Moll’s clients are following her to her new firm, effective immediately. At her new employer, Moll takes on a leadership role within a more than 70-lawyer strong investment funds practice.

Moll''s brief at Akin Gump will encompass seeding fund startups along with well-known hedge funds. “Seeding is hugely important, because there’s such a need for start-up managers to have an infrastructure in place from day one, particularly since the regulatory environment has changed so much,” Moll said.

“Because fundraising has gotten harder, and the due diligence has become more intense, investors will want to see the infrastructure in place before they make an investment,” Moll added.

Moll’s work at Akin Gump will have a broad reach both domestically and internationally, as the firm builds its presence in London, Hong Kong, Beijing, Abu Dhabi, and other cities. The firm recently announced the addition of two partners, Ian Meade and Tim Pearce, to its London office. Both were previously with Simmons & Simmons. In February, Akin Gump announced the opening of a Hong Kong branch to be spearheaded by Gregory D. Puff, who has represented global investment firms and came to Akin Gump from Shearman & Sterling. Joining Puff is noted investment funds lawyer Andrew Abernathy, formerly with Norton Rose.