The Hedge Fund Law Report recently had the privilege of interviewing George J. Mazin, a Partner at Dechert LLP, and a deservedly well-regarded member of the hedge fund bar.  As evidenced by the text of our interview, which is included in this issue of the Hedge Fund Law Report, George has an aptitude for identifying the legal consequences of business issues, and explaining them clearly.  He also has the kind of market color that only comes with years – decades – in the trenches, and experience across business cycles.  Our interview was wide-ranging, reflecting the diversity of George’s experience, which in turn reflects the range of legal issues relevant to hedge fund managers.  In particular, our interview covered: valuation considerations in connection with affiliate transactions; valuations based on fraudulent sales and rigged dealer bids; manager overrides of third-party valuations; whether side pockets remain viable in new hedge fund launches; how even non-ERISA hedge funds can analogize the ERISA model of independent pricing; effective valuation testing programs; the interaction between GAAP and the custody rule; GAAP exceptions to audit opinions; use of counterparty confirmations by the SEC; delayed audits; custody of derivatives and limited partnership interests; insider trading policies with respect to market chatter and channel checking; how to grant side letters in light of selective disclosure considerations; how algorithmic or high-speed trading firms can prepare for regulatory examinations; legal considerations in connection with loans from a hedge fund to a manager; best practices in connection with principal trades; and whether side-by-side investing by manager personnel can pass muster under fiduciary duty and related principles.  This interview was conducted in connection with the Regulatory Compliance Association’s Fall 2011 Asset Management Thought Leadership Symposium, which is taking place today at the Pierre Hotel in New York.