Laura Anne Corsell, Don E. Felice and Nigel Linssen join Philadelphia office PHILADELPHIA - July 24, 2007 - Laura Anne Corsell has joined Montgomery, McCracken, Walker & Rhoads, LLP as chair of the firm's Investment Management group. "Laura brings to our Firm a seasoned perspective and a wealth of regulatory experience, particularly with respect to investment companies, their investment advisers and independent directors," said Steve Madva, chairman of the firm. "We believe this will complement and expand our existing private equity and related transactional capabilities."
Ms. Corsell is looking forward to continuing her investment management practice, previously conducted through the Corsell Law Group, Ltd., a boutique practice she established in 1994, but with added capacity in key areas. "As part of Montgomery McCracken's business group, I can offer my investment company and investment advisory clients direct access to ERISA, tax and transactional services - all critical in the asset management industry," Ms. Corsell said. "I also expect Montgomery McCracken's Delaware office to be an important resource for our independent director clients, especially with respect to ongoing governance and fiduciary matters."
Bill Kingsbury, a partner in the firm's Berwyn office, is also looking forward to expanding Montgomery McCracken's traditional corporate practice. "We are confident that Montgomery McCracken's Delaware office will be an important resource for our investment management clients with respect to corporate governance matters." He also noted that the firm's business group includes several professionals who have served as fiduciaries or counseled investment committees of pension funds, foundations and charitable organizations and thus bring heightened sensitivity to the issues faced by those - like investment company directors - who are subject to fiduciary obligations under applicable state and federal regulation.
Ms. Corsell's knowledge of the investment management regulation is comprehensive and includes practical experience in virtually all aspects of the industry. Ms. Corsell regularly counsels investment advisers and independent fund directors with respect to regulatory, governance and compliance matters. She has assisted in the development of policies and procedures designed to satisfy fiduciary and regulatory responsibilities imposed by the federal securities laws, assisted clients in responding to regulatory examinations and enforcement actions and undertaken the role of independent compliance consultant in connection with the settlement of regulatory actions. She is experienced in preparing complex disclosure documents for traditional, private and insurance related investment products and in negotiating service contracts for investment companies. Ms. Corsell has also worked as special counsel to independent directors in connection with transactional matters, represented listed and unlisted closed-end investment companies, and counseled hedge and private equity funds with respect to regulatory and compliance issues.
Ms. Corsell's career began at the Securities and Exchange Commission where she served on the staff of the Division of Investment Management in New York City and Washington D.C. She also held positions with two leading investment advisory firms, in each case with responsibility for all matters arising under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. After moving from New York City to Philadelphia in 1989, Ms. Corsell practiced with Ballard, Spahr, Andrews & Ingersoll before establishing the boutique investment management practice that later became the Corsell Law Group, Ltd.
A graduate of Rutgers/Camden School of Law, where she served on the law review and the University of Massachusetts (B.A. magna cum laude), Ms. Corsell developed a course in mutual fund regulation, which she taught at Rutgers/Camden School of Law between 1999 and 2002. Ms. Corsell is a member of the American Bar Association's Subcommittee on Investment Companies and Investment Advisers; the Philadelphia Bar Association's Investment Company Act Subcommittee, the New York based Women's Investment Management Forum. She is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania and New York.
Don Felice and Nigel Linssen, each previously associated with Ms. Corsell at the Corsell Law Group, Ltd., have also joined Ms. Corsell at Montgomery McCracken. Mr. Felice, who joins the firm as Of Counsel, focuses his practice on matters relating to the regulation of investment companies and their service providers. His experience in this area includes significant work with independent mutual fund directors and expertise in a range of disclosure matters. He regularly assists investment companies and their advisers in preparing registration statements, proxy materials and other documents required to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and other authorities. He also assists in the preparation and negotiation of service contracts with investment advisors and other mutual fund service providers. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania (B.A. degree in 1988) and Temple University School of Law (J.D. degree in 1996), Mr. Felice served as law clerk to the Honorable Robert A. Latrone, First Judicial District of Pennsylvania and was previously associated with Drinker, Biddle & Reath, and Richard Goldberg & Associates. Mr. Felice is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Mr. Linssen, who joins the firm as an associate, earned a J.D. degree from American University, Washington College of Law, in 2002 and a B.A. degree from the University of Minnesota in 1997.
Prior to his association with the Corsell Law Group, Ltd., he was with Deustche Asset Management in Baltimore, Maryland. Mr. Linssen is admitted in Pennsylvania and Maryland. About Montgomery McCracken
Founded more than 90 years ago, Montgomery McCracken has expanded the scope and depth of its practice to meet the growing demands of its clients. With offices in Philadelphia, Wilmington, DE, Cherry Hill, NJ, and Berwyn and West Chester, PA, the firm enjoys a strong regional presence with an established national practice. Its clients range from closely-held business enterprises to multi-national Fortune 500 companies. Montgomery McCracken is a full-service law firm serving clients in traditional areas of practice such as litigation, corporate, class action defense, mass tort claims, government investigations and white collar crime, products liability, tax, estate planning, and labor and employment law. The firms also serves clients in intellectual property, e-commerce, computer and information technology, real estate, environmental, health care law, pharmaceutical, bankruptcy, employee benefits and nonprofit matters.
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