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MoFo Advises Monark Markets on $8.1M Strategic Funding Round

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Morrison Foerster advised Monark Markets, a New York-based fintech company building the rails connecting brokerage firms and...

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Morrison Foerster advised Monark Markets, a New York-based fintech company building the rails connecting brokerage firms and wealth platforms to private markets, on a $8.1 million strategic financing. The round is led by F-Prime with participation from The Treasury, Commerce Ventures, Grit Capital Partners, and BBAE Holdings.The MoFo team was led by emerging companies + venture capital of counsel Maxwell Rich and associate Savannah McGinnis, with valuable assistance provided by investment management partner Kelley Howes and executive compensation partner Crescent Chasteen.Read <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/monark-raises-8-1m-strategic-163000845.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYmluZy5jb20v&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAEPVBE6uy9PXO7qJZoLZ-95RQ6SY-cMgvJu1e-H2eDf2DIVKmLJAi7QRxRJLwvnKYULwRpddWSQk17ibw2C9KcPjbVFlEPM0q4uQ74KOF-MZ2FRkHh58AEHdYSRKEkfeo9NbnsUYEHjV1yzh3jVD0fdcOWCzVOUktZDogwZbgXAS" target="_blank">Monark’s press release</a>.

MoFo Advises Monark Markets on $8.1M Strategic Funding Round

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Maxwell Rich is of counsel in the New York office of Morrison Foerster, and a member of the firm’s Emerging Companies + Venture Capital Group.Maxwell represents clients across a wide range of corporate matters, including general corporate, financings, transactional, regulatory securities matters, and mergers and acquisitions. His representation of operating companies and investment vehicles spans the entire corporate life-cycle, from formation to exit across multiple industries.Prior to joining the firm, Maxwell served as a Deputy General Counsel, Corporate Secretary, and Vice President of Regulatory Affairs at a venture-backed financial services unicorn. While at the company, he was responsible for company-wide legal operations, legal strategy, and compliance, serving as the chief compliance officer of a FINRA-member and a registered investment adviser, respectively, during his tenure. He acted as a regulatory liaison and advocate for the company’s various regulated entities; and managed corporate structure and supervised growth of the business, including leading acquisitions and spinouts, both foreign and domestic.Maxwell has a strong commitment to giving back to his community and industry. Max volunteers as a traveling expert for the State Department-backed Financial Services Volunteer Corps, a non-profit whose mission is to build sound banking and financial systems in developing and transition countries seeking to develop market-oriented economies. During intersessions at Georgetown University School of Law, Maxwell is an adjunct, teaching “Formation to Exit – Capital Formation for Startups. Max is also an adviser for The Association of Online Investment Platforms ("AOIP"), and organization that champions expanding investment opportunities in private companies to the general public, advocates for the responsible growth of private investment platforms, and educates the investors, legislators and regulators about the private markets in a transparent, honest manner.Maxwell earned his J.D., with honors, from Boston University School of Law, and holds a B.A., summa cum laude, from Drew University.

Maxwell Rich

Of Counsel

Savannah McGinnis is a corporate associate in the Los Angeles office of Morrison Foerster.Prior to joining the Transactions Department, Savannah was a summer associate in the Los Angeles office the summer of 2021.Savannah earned her J.D. from University of Southern California Gould School of Law, where she also received a Business Law Certificate. While attending she served as Senior Articles Editor for the Southern California Interdisciplinary Law Journal and participated in the Women’s Law Association, the Business Law Society, and the First Generation Professionals Program.Savannah also holds an A.A. in Merchandising and Marketing from The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, as well as a B.A., summa cum laude, in Sociology from Loyola Marymount.

Savannah McGinnis

Associate

Kelley Howes is chair of the Investment Management Group, co-head of the Securities + Derivatives Regulatory Solutions team, and managing partner of the firm’s Denver office.Kelley has over 30 years’ experience advising U.S. registered investment companies (including mutual funds, exchange traded funds, and interval funds), business development companies, registered investment advisers, and exempt reporting advisers on a wide range of legal, regulatory, and compliance matters. She also counsels clients regarding investment company status matters under the Investment Company Act.Recognized as a go-to counsel for independent fund trustees, Kelley frequently advises registered funds and their trustees on corporate governance, compliance, and regulatory matters, mergers and reorganizations, and regulatory examination and enforcement matters.Kelley is consistently recognized as a top advisor in Chambers USA and Chambers Global, receiving multiple distinctions for Registered Funds. She has also been recognized in the Finance: Fintech category of The Legal 500 US awards.Prior to joining Morrison Foerster, she served as executive vice president and general counsel of Janus Capital Group Inc., a NYSE-listed 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 previously served as a director of Young Americans Bank/Young Americans Center for Financial Education, ICI Mutual Insurance Company, and the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce.

Kelley Howes

Chair of Investment Management Group

Crescent Moran Chasteen is a partner in Morrison Foerster’s Boston office and a co-chair of the firm’s Executive Compensation + Benefits practice. A nationally recognized advisor to boards, executives, and investors, Crescent brings more than two decades of experience at the intersection of executive compensation, tax, securities, and corporate governance—guiding clients through the complex legal, regulatory, and strategic challenges that shape leadership pay in today’s rapidly evolving market. Crescent partners with public and private companies, high-growth start-ups, investment firms, and nonprofits on executive compensation design and strategy. Known for her ability to balance innovation with compliance, she helps organizations craft incentive structures that drive performance, withstand scrutiny, and align with long-term business goals. Her work spans transformative transactions and emerging sectors—from SPACs, IPOs, and M&A to digital asset ventures. Her practice includes: <ul><li>Executive compensation in major transactions: Advising on executive compensation and employee benefits issues arising in M&A, IPO, and SPAC transactions, including golden parachute (Section 280G) and deferred compensation (Section 409A) analysis, employment and retention agreement negotiations, and post-closing integration. </li><li>Equity and incentive design: Creating and implementing restricted stock, options, restricted stock units, performance stock units, and bespoke performance-based award programs. </li><li>Board and committee governance: Advising boards and compensation committees on pay governance, disclosure, and alignment under SEC and proxy advisory frameworks. </li><li>Regulatory and disclosure compliance: Guiding clients through SEC reporting, say-on-pay readiness, and ERISA/Code compliance for qualified and nonqualified benefit plans. </li><li>Crypto and digital asset compensation: Advising on token-based incentive plans, token purchase agreements, and related instruments; navigating the intersection of cryptocurrency, tax, and securities law; supporting token-based M&A diligence and structuring under U.S. and cross-border regimes. </li><li>Nonprofit leadership compensation: Designing compliant compensation and incentive programs for tax-exempt organizations, including Section 4960 considerations. </li></ul>Crescent’s practice spans industries including life sciences, healthcare, technology, venture capital, financial services, and real estate. Clients rely on her to translate complex tax and securities rules into practical, business-aligned solutions that advance organizational success and stakeholder alignment. Before joining Morrison Foerster, Crescent was a partner at leading multinational law firms in Boston and Washington, D.C., advising Fortune 500 companies and emerging enterprises on executive compensation and employee benefits law. A frequent author and speaker, Crescent contributes thought leadership on evolving compensation trends, governance, and the future of equity and token-based pay. She has served as a co-chair of the Boston Bar Association’s ERISA Subcommittee, a member of the BBA Tax Steering Committee, and an active participant in the ABA Joint Committee on Employee Benefits. Crescent earned her B.A. from the University of Maine, J.D. from Western New England University School of Law, and LL.M. in taxation from Georgetown University Law Center. She clerked for the Honorable Carolyn P. Chiechi of the U.S. Tax Court.