As an alternative investment specialist, Ian Dillon, partner at William Fry, is still getting a lot of queries on AIFMD from clients around the world. Dillon, who has recently returned from a 7 year spell in the Cayman Islands, notes that while the format of the firm’s bi-weekly Asset Management and Investment Funds Group lunch hasn’t changed much from when he last worked in William Fry around 10 years ago, the get-together now requires a considerably bigger room.

Anthony Linehan, B.A., M.A.,is head of fixed interest, portfolio risk and management, and director at KBC Asset Management. He says that the primary skill required to be a fund manager is an analytical mind one which can analyse a lot of data, get to the key points, or drivers, be this in regard to a company or a country/economy. An abiding interest in the world around you is also an essential attribute.