WASHINGTON, DC, April 24, 2023: Continuing to add former government officials in key financial regulatory areas, Morgan Lewis welcomes Christine Ayako Schleppegrell, who served as branch chief at the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC’s) Division of Investment Management. She joins as a partner in the firm’s investment management practice resident in Washington, DC, where she will counsel on federal securities regulations and enforcement matters, with a focus on private fund advisers.
“Christine’s insight into the rulemaking process while at the SEC, which has pursued an aggressive regulatory agenda in recent years, will reinforce our regulatory capabilities for our financial services clients,” said Firm Chair Jami McKeon. “She will provide strategic advice to many of our clients given her wide-ranging knowledge for issues impacting global asset managers to startup advisers, and across diverse product offerings.”
While leading the Private Funds Branch of the Investment Adviser Regulation Office at the SEC, Christine contributed to landmark rulemakings impacting private fund advisers and counseled staff from the agency’s Enforcement and Examinations Divisions regarding ongoing regulatory actions. During her tenure at other law firms, Christine focused on regulatory and compliance issues under the federal securities laws, including the Investment Advisers Act, Investment Company Act, Securities Act, and Exchange Act. She represented asset managers to a variety of investment vehicles, including private funds, foreign funds, business development companies, registered investment companies, collateralized loan obligations, and separately managed accounts.
“Given the SEC’s continued focus on new regulation and disclosure requirements, as well as its related enforcement initiatives, clients continue to need highly skilled counsel in preparing for and responding to these events,” said Timothy Levin, leader of the firm’s investment management practice. “As the markets in which our clients compete only become more complex, Christine’s deep understanding of the SEC’s rulemaking, examination, and enforcement processes, combined with her previous time in private practice, will allow her to quickly step in to assist clients.”
Continuing to strengthen Morgan Lewis’s 150-lawyer market-leading investment management practice, Christine’s arrival follows that of bank regulatory duo Christopher Paridon, a former lawyer in a major bank regulatory practice who previously served with the Federal Reserve System, and Kristin Lee, former senior vice president and assistant general counsel in Citibank’s bank regulatory group, who recently joined as partners resident in Washington, DC, and New York, respectively.
Christine’s arrival also follows several other SEC veterans, including Fred Block, former supervisory trial counsel in the Enforcement Division; Kelly Gibson, former acting deputy director of Enforcement and leader of Enforcement’s Climate and ESG Task Force; and Erin Martin, who previously served as legal branch chief in the Division of Corporation Finance.