DENVER (August 4, 2022) – Morrison Foerster, a leading global law firm, is pleased to announce that it has elected corporate lawyer Kelley Howes to the firm’s partnership, effective July 31, 2022. Howesbrings to the partnership almost 30 years of experience in investment management-related matters, both in private practice and in-house. She will co-chair the firm’s Investment Management Group together with New York partner Derek Steingarten, who joined Morrison Foerster last month.
Howes has extensive experience representing U.S. registered and unregistered investment companies, registered investment advisers, transfer agents, and broker-dealers on a wide range of legal, regulatory, compliance, corporate governance, and insurance matters. She advises clients, including private funds and REITs, on issues under the Investment Company Act and the Investment Advisers Act. She counsels independent fund directors on governance issues, and registered funds on mergers, reorganizations, compliance, and regulatory matters, including examinations and enforcement matters. Howes also advises blockchain and crypto companies on their obligations under U.S. federal securities laws.
Howes joined Morrison Foerster 10 years ago, having previously served as Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Janus Capital Group, now Janus Henderson Group (NYSE/ASX: JHG), a global asset management holding company. She also previously served as Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Janus Capital Management LLC, a U.S. registered investment advisory subsidiary of Janus Capital Group, and as President of the Janus funds and President of Janus Distributors LLC.
“Kelley is a distinguished lawyer whose substantive investment management experience has earned her loyalty from many firm clients over the years. She has demonstrated her commitment to the firm in many ways, including as a member of our Allies Network and by spearheading training initiatives. We are delighted to welcome her to the partnership,” said Eric McCrath, co-chair of Morrison Foerster’s Global Corporate Department. “Further, Kelley’s promotion highlights the continued momentum of the firm’s Corporate Group, following the addition of nine partners since the start of the year and the election of nine corporate lawyers to the partnership in January and April.”
"We’re continuing to see increasing demand from funds clients for experience at the intersection of managing money and the law,” added Managing Partner Eric Piesner. “Kelley’s election to the partnership, combined with Derek’s recent addition, further invigorates our investment management practice and is a critical step in the expansion of our capabilities in this important area. Their more than 40 years of combined experience, and Kelley’s focus on crypto, together with her invaluable commercial perspective gained in-house, position us well to serve the industry’s rapidly changing needs, including those driven by blockchain and digital securities.”
Howes earned her J.D. from Suffolk University School of Law and her B.A. from St. Lawrence University, and holds an M.B.A. from Northwestern University. She is ranked by leading legal directory Chambers USA for Registered Funds. Howes has served on the boards of directors of Young Americans Bank/Young Americans Center for Financial Education, ICI Mutual Insurance Company, and the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce. She is admitted to practice in New York, Massachusetts, and Colorado.