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Lea Anne Copenhefer

Partner

Lea Anne Copenhefer’s practice focuses primarily on the representation of registered funds and their advisers and independent directors. Clients include the Transamerica Funds, Legg Mason Fixed Income Funds, a number of American Funds and their independent directors, the Brandes Funds and their independent directors, Pacific Heights Asset Management (adviser to The Permanent Portfolio), Canyon Partner’s River Canyon Fund Management, and the independent directors of AXA Equitable’s mutual funds. Lea Anne also participates in the representation of several other mutual funds and fund boards.

Extended Profile

Lea Anne also performs special projects for mutual funds and fund directors, including complex restructurings, acquisitions, regulatory reviews and investigations, and litigation. Lea Anne has been responsible for significant portions of large-scale compliance program reviews.

Before joining Morgan Lewis, Lea Anne was a partner in the investment management practice of another international law firm, where she was a former member of the firm committee.

Education

  • The University of Chicago Law School, 1985, Juris Doctor
  • Yale University, 1982, Bachelor of Arts, summa cum laude, with Honors

Admissions

  • Massachusetts
  • Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
  • US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
  • US District Court for the District of Massachusetts

Awards and Affiliations

Ranked, Hedge & Mutual Funds, Massachusetts, Chambers USA (2019)

Ranked, Investment Funds: Registered Funds, Nationwide, Chambers USA (2019)

Recommended, Investment fund formation and management: Mutual/registered/exchange-traded funds, The Legal 500 US (2008–2010, 2012, 2014, 2016–2018)

Member, Practice Group of the Year, Asset Management, Law360 (2017)

Member, American Bar Association

Member, Boston Bar Association

Member, Massachusetts Bar Association

Phi Beta Kappa, Yale University

Publications

10/15/2018 - SEC Staff Relieves Fund Boards of Certain Compliance Determinations

9/9/2016 - In Eagerly Awaited Ruling, AXA Beats Excessive Fee Claim

May 2016 - Independent Directors: In the SEC’s Crosshairs?, Fund Directions

4/7/2016 - SEC Chair Discusses Enhanced Director Oversight

7/23/2014 - SEC Adopts Money Market Fund Reforms

7/11/2014 - SEC Staff Issues Proxy Voting Guidance

6/11/2013 - SEC Proposes Money Market Fund Reform

3/20/2013 - SEC to Ask Tough Questions of Fund Directors

2/28/2013 - SEC Announces Examination Priorities for 2013 for Investment Advisers and Investment Companies

11/21/2012 - FSOC Turns Up the Heat on Money Market Fund Reform

6/22/2011 - Supreme Court Janus Capital Group Decision Clarifies Scope of Primary Liability Under Rule 10b-5; Investment Adviser Not Liable for Statements in Funds’ Prospectuses

3/7/2011 - SEC Proposes Rule Amendments to Remove Credit Rating References From Money Market Fund and Other Rules

12/17/2010 - Unanswered Questions From Most Recent Mutual Fund Excessive Fee Case

7/27/2010 - SEC Proposes Changes to Rule 12b-1 Fees

1/29/2010 - SEC Adopts Significant Amendments to Money Market Fund Regulations

View more...

Events

3/15/2015 - ICI Mutual Funds and Investment Management Conference