2021 Virtual Mutual Funds and Investment Management Conference Thought Leadership Sessions

March 15 // March 17 // March 19

Thought Leadership Sessions

Monday, March 15 | Wednesday, March 17 | Friday, March 19

Monday, March 15

11:00–11:50 a.m.

Concurrent Sponsored Thought Leadership Sessions

Citi
The Case for Prioritizing Operations During a Merger

Asset management is undergoing a historic period of consolidation that will reshape the industry. For firms that are bringing organizations together, combining operations and back-office functions can be one of the biggest challenges. However, if done correctly, the right operating model can help ensure a successful merger. Please join Citi’s panel of experts for their outlook on the industry’s deal activity in 2021 and the operational areas firms anticipating a consolidation should prioritize.

COLMAN BURKE
Managing Director
Global Head of Middle Office Operations
Citi

JON GEZOTIS
Director, North America Head of Fund Services and Middle Office
Citi

MIKE TUMILTY
Global Chief Operating Officer
Standard Life Aberdeen

DFIN
How the Proposed Tailored Shareholder Report Modernizes Fund Shareholder Reports and Disclosures

As regulators continue to improve disclosure and more meaningful information to investors, introducing and leveraging modern technologies allow new regulations to be more easily implemented in a cost-efficient manner for the funds and the investor. The regulators, investors, and information providers are uniquely positioned to leverage recent and continuing disclosure improvements to provide investors with more interactive and understandable investment information. The proposed new tailored shareholder report will provide access of concise and visually engaging shareholder reports to investors.

Join us for an industry thought leadership session that will take an in-depth look at the current proposed tailored shareholder report rule, the long-term potential impacts, and the best practices to address them.

Speakers:

JOHN FALCO
Partner
Troutman Pepper

ANN FRECHETTE
Managing Director
BlackRock, Global Financial Reporting

ERIC JOHNSON
President of Global Investment Companies
DFIN

JAY F. NUSBLATT
Managing Director
Sales and Business Development
Grant Thornton
Improving Your Business Performance and Competitive Advantage with Strong Internal Controls

Customers, regulators, company leadership, and other stakeholders all expect that you operate efficiently, effectively, and with integrity. Too often, organizations see internal controls as overhead that slows the speed of business and makes it more difficult to work with. However, companies that embrace risk management and internal control, and those who preach a “risk informed” culture, have achieved greater profitability, and penetration in their target markets. Join an engaging panel discussion with professionals who have dedicated their careers to designing and assessing controls that improve business performance, not hinder it.

Speakers:

CHARMONE ADAMS
Senior Manager
Grant Thornton

DENNIS BELL
Partner
Grant Thornton

MICHAEL J. GALANTE JR.
Internal Audit Director
SEI

ADAM ROSS
Principal
Grant Thornton

JUDD WRIGHT
Audit Partner
Grant Thornton
Stradley Ronon
Join our industry panelists to hear practical tips for prioritizing and implementing new rules and initiatives in 2021.

Discussion Topics:
- Derivatives
- Valuation
- Fund-of-funds
- Environmental, social, and governance (ESG)
Speakers:

SARA CROVITZ
Stradley Ronon

DAVID W. GRIM
Stradley Ronon

MICHAEL W. MUNDT
Stradley Ronon

CHRISTOPHER J. ZIMMERMAN
Stradley Ronon

12:30 p.m.–12:50 p.m.

Coffee Break Sponsored by Goodwin
ESG Outlook Under the Biden Administration and at the SEC

During this coffee break, Goodwin will lead a discussion of emerging ESG issues, as well as potential legislative and regulatory changes to expect under the Biden administration. We will discuss the evolving landscape of ESG considerations for fund managers and fund boards, including fiduciary and disclosure considerations.

Speakers:

PAUL DELLIGATTI
Partner
Goodwin

DANIELLE REYES
Counsel
Goodwin

1:50–2:10 p.m.

Coffee Break Sponsored by ACA Group
Operational Efficiency and Cost Management in Compliance Departments

Firms are facing a growing number of operational risks, including global pandemics, natural disasters, geopolitical threats, economic crises, and third-party risks like supply chain disruptions. Firms need agility, scalability, and resilience so they can quickly adapt to circumstances and successfully seize opportunities while mitigating continuously evolving risks.

For risk and compliance leaders working under the mandate to maximize efficiency while managing costs and budgetary constraints, strategic use of technology, outsourcing, and hired specialists can help increase efficiencies and manage costs.

Join ACA for a coffee break and conversation as Carlo di Florio, chief services officer; Jack Rader, partner; and Erik Olsen, managing director, discuss how to successfully navigate the future of risk and compliance while effectively managing costs, efficiency, and performance.

CARLO DI FLORIO
Global Services Officer
ACA Group

ERIK OLSEN
Managing Director
ACA Group

JACK RADAR
Partner
ACA Group

3:00–3:30 p.m.

Concurrent Sponsored Thought Leadership Sessions

FundGuard
Why Cyber? The Importance of Building Cyber Resilience in Investment Management

Speakers:

KIRK LITTLETON, moderator
Sales Director
FundGuard

ADMIRAL MICHAEL ROGERS
Former Commander, US Cyber Command
Director, National Security Agency
Operating Partner, Team8

NADAV ZAFRIR
Former Commander, IDF Unit 8200
Managing Partner, Team8
Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP
Trends in Global Shareholder Litigation Affecting Mutual Funds

Focusing on some of the key developments in shareholder litigation from around the globe, this session will provide attendees with an essential overview of developments in the landscape of global shareholder litigation, from important cases and settlements to emerging jurisdictions. Also examined will be how fund complexes and other institutional investors are dealing with identifying and analyzing these cases as potential shareholder plaintiffs and the issues they face when considering opting-in, including litigation funders, downside risk, and more. The session will also outline best practices for institutional investors in evaluating and addressing claims where joining affirmatively is the only option for pursuing recovery. Lastly, the session will look at emerging trends in litigation relevant to investors and what they should be looking for and concerned about.

Speakers:

DARREN J. CHECK
Partner
Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP

KEITH R. DUTILL
Partner
Stradley Ronon

LOWELL HAKY
Associate General Counsel
Charles Schwab & Co. Inc.

MICHAEL WHITE
Senior Counsel, Litigation
The Vanguard Group, Inc.
ISS Securities Class Action Services
FOMO: Securing Your Billions in Class-Action Recoveries

This session will review critical matters related to high-profile, active securities cases, recent settlements—tallying $20 billion over the last three years alone—and key trends within the industry. These trends include COVID-related class actions, unique event-driven litigation, growth in global (opt-in) cases with multiple iterations, and more. Additionally, the session will address the lifecycle of litigation to explain why cases take so long before investors achieve resolution as well as discussion on what’s ahead for 2021 and beyond.

Speaker:

JEFF LUBITZ
Executive Director
ISS Securities Class Action Services
UMB Fund Services
Interval and Tender-Offer Funds: Continued Growth During Uncertain Markets

Growth in unlisted closed-end funds, including interval and tender-offer funds, continues to accelerate even through unprecedented challenges the COVID-19 pandemic has created for the asset management space. In this session, hear a market update plus insight into regulatory changes, investment categories, and asset managers influencing the category. In many cases, managers forming these funds are adapting an existing strategy from a partnership to a fund structure seeking to offer uncorrelated returns through commercial credit, direct lending, and other nontraditional investments. UMB will explain key considerations for investment managers exploring fund formation and highlight nuances of interval funds vs. mutual funds vs. private funds.

UMB Fund Services is a leader in unlisted closed-end fund (CEF) servicing, offering a unique servicing technology and a start-up platform both designed specifically for unlisted CEFs. Our expertise continuously garners industry recognition, earning Fund Intelligence’s 2019 Best Interval Fund Administrator Award and Hedgeweek’s 2018 and 2019 Best Liquid Alternatives/’40 Act Fund Administrator.

Panel Participants:

MAUREEN QUILL, moderator
Executive Vice President, Executive Director Registered Funds
UMB Fund Services

TERRY GALLAGHER
Executive Vice President, Director of Mutual Fund Accounting and Administration
UMB Fund Services

ANN MAURER
Senior Vice President, Senior Client Relationship Manager
UMB Fund Services

Wednesday, March 17

11:00–11:50 a.m.

Concurrent Sponsored Thought Leadership Sessions

BNY Mellon
Driving Distribution Success Through Digital Capabilities

The increased adoption of new technologies is shaking up the way asset managers distribute their products. The pandemic has further served to highlight inefficiencies in distribution models and underscored the need for digitization and innovation. How can managers up their distribution game?

JANE MANCINI, moderator
Global Co-Head of Sales, Asset Servicing
BNY Mellon

SCOTT ANDERSON
Director, Research
BNY Mellon Data and Analytics Solutions

KEN BURD
Head of Distribution Business Intelligence and Analytics
Principal Global Investors

SCOTT E. COUTO
Head of North America
Columbia Threadneedle Investments
Thompson Hine
Disruptors: Smaller Funds and Opportunities to Innovate

Many fund complexes are considered to be “smaller” funds. Although smaller funds face challenges because of their size, their ability to operate without the institutional constraints found at large financial organizations free them to innovate and exploit opportunities. These fund complexes often have the ability to disrupt the marketplace. Being nimble, they are in a position to quickly identify and adapt to fast-changing trends, values, and priorities that drive shareholder investment. Because of their size, smaller fund complexes can quickly pivot to respond with precision to investor demands, such as changes in product offerings, leadership approach, and business practices. We will discuss these opportunities to differentiate your fund family and innovate in order to be more responsive to changing shareholder investment goals and wider investment management ecosystem.

Speakers:

CASSANDRA W. BORCHERS
Partner
Chair, Blockchain and Cryptocurrencies
Thompson Hine

ANDREW J. DAVALLA
Partner
Thompson Hine

CRAIG A. FOSTER
Partner
Thompson Hine

BIBB STRENCH
Partner
Thompson Hine
Willkie Farr & Gallagher
Key Considerations in Asset Management M&A/Consolidation Transactions

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP will provide an overview of key considerations in fund industry mergers and acquisitions and similar consolidation transactions. With the ever-accelerating pace of consolidation in the asset management industry, many asset managers are focused on both growing parts of their business and exiting other portions of their business. While every deal is unique, there are common themes and considerations across the consolidation landscape.

The discussion will be led by four practitioners from Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP: Elliot Gluck, Ben Haskin, and Jay Spinola from Willkie’s asset management group and Laura Delanoy from Willkie’s corporate and financial services group. The discussion will focus both on transactional and regulatory considerations, as well as key decision points including:
- Buying the advisory business versus adopting the funds
- Shareholder/client consents
- Retaining subadvisory relationships
- Purchase price adjustments and closing conditions
- Service contracts
- Distribution
- Regulatory and litigation considerations
- Due diligence
Speakers:

LAURA DELANOY
Partner
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP

ELLIOT GLUCK
Partner
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP

BENJAMIN HASKIN
Partner
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP

JAY SPINOLA
Partner
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
Workiva
Six Steps to a Simpler Prospectus Reporting Process

The volume of data fund providers manage is growing exponentially, business processes keep becoming more complex, and reporting regulations are evolving. Automating some of the most tedious parts of updating a prospectus can help accelerate work, reduce the risk of human error, and improve transparency and trust. Start simplifying the process of updating a prospectus for each of your dozens or even hundreds of funds with six simple steps.

Speaker:

ARTHY KUMAR
Director of Product Marketing and Financial Services Industry Principal
Workiva

1:30–1:50 p.m.

Coffee Break Sponsored by Alliant Insurance Services, Inc.

Take a break between sessions for some fun with an interactive Kahoot quiz game to test your knowledge of risk and insurance-related topics for the mutual fund industry. Prizes will be awarded to the winners with the highest scores!

Please do one of the following prior to the coffee break: (1) Download the Kahoot! App from wherever you get your apps, or (2) Go to “Kahoot.it” in any web browser and await further instructions.

The coffee break is sponsored by Alliant Insurance Services, which acquired Crystal & Company in May 2018. The merger of the Alliant and Crystal insurance brokerages set the stage for a higher standard of excellence in mitigating risk for the largest clients in the financial institutions industry. Alliant provided additional industry and specialty resources while Crystal brought unequivocal expertise on risk and insurance matters for the financial institutions industry. This potent combination of forward-thinking people, and best-in-class products and services, elevates the strategy and execution behind risk, insurance, and employee benefits services we provide our clients. It’s a win-win for businesses that want to be smart about risk. Good luck in the quiz!

Hosts:

TYLER ENTWISTLE
Director
Alliant Insurance Services, Inc

RYAN FARNSWORTH
Senior Vice President
Alliant Financial Institutions

2:40–3:00 p.m.

Coffee Break Sponsored by Broadridge
Legal Ease: Get out of Word and Excel Disclosures with Intelligent Content Management

Despite significant technology advancement in our industry, many firms are still using manual cut-and-paste Word or Excel processes to manage, update, and share legal disclosures and other multipurpose content.

Learn how an intelligent, data-driven approach to managing content can streamline processes, ensure accuracy, and enable advanced analytics.

Now you can ensure that key product, service, and regulatory language is accurate, compliant, and consistent throughout the enterprise—including regulatory and marketing materials, websites, and RFP responses.

Practical examples will be shared of how content can be broken up into components and tagged, searched, shared, edited, assembled, and maintained across your content stack.

Speakers:

JOHN CLOSSON
Senior Director
Broadridge

ED HRYBENKO
Vice President, Marketing and Regulatory Communications Solutions

Friday, March 19

11:00–11:50 a.m.

Concurrent Sponsored Thought Leadership Sessions

Dechert
Current Developments Affecting the Fund Industry: Cybersecurity and Antitrust/HSR

Please join us for a discussion of cybersecurity and antitrust developments affecting the fund industry, moderated by James Catano, partner in Dechert’s financial services practice.

Cyberattacks, which are at an all-time high, have become increasingly sophisticated, with nation-state threat actors, organized crime, and even insiders all posing risks. Asset managers and registered investment advisers are prime targets. Brenda Sharton, cochair of Dechert’s global privacy and cybersecurity practice, will discuss how to reduce risk, including how to plan for and handle the day your organization and its data become a cyber target. She will cover root causes and vulnerabilities; best practices for reducing litigation and regulatory risk; and post-incident disclosure and remediation considerations.

Craig Falls, partner in Dechert’s antitrust practice, will provide an update and outlook on antitrust scrutiny of asset manager and regulated funds activity, including a discussion of the FTC’s proposed rule changes for HSR filings, the state of the debate over common ownership, and the likely role of the common ownership theory in the Biden administration’s antitrust priorities.

Speakers:

JAMES V. CATANO
Partner, Financial Services (Washington, DC)
Dechert

CRAIG G. FALLS
Partner, Antitrust (Washington, DC)
Dechert

BRENDA R. SHARTON
Partner, Privacy and Cybersecurity (Boston)
Dechert
EY

Join EY and Dimensional Fund Advisors as they explore international tax solutions and technologies that help registered investment companies manage the complex process of reporting, withholding, and compliance.

Speakers:

DANIELLE CLARK
Principal, International Tax Services
EY

MATTHEW J. KORCHINSKY
Senior Manager, Advisory Services
EY

JOY LOPEZ
Vice President, Head of Investment Tax
Dimensional Fund Advisors

CHRISTOPHER SNIVELY
Director, Head of Mutual Fund Administration, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer
Lazard Asset Management LLC
Morgan Lewis
2021 SEC Enforcement and Examination Trends and Rule 18f-4: The Fund Derivatives Rule

Description:

We will explore current enforcement and examination trends affecting investment companies and investment advisers and their employees, and will review SEC enforcement and examination priorities for 2021.

We will also have a roundtable discussion regarding new Rule 18f-4, and provide practical insights into complying with certain aspects of the rule with a team of Morgan Lewis lawyers and two senior lawyers from large mutual fund.

Speakers:

G. JEFFREY BOUJOUKOS
Partner
Morgan Lewis

SEAN GRABER
Partner
Morgan Lewis

THOMAS S. HARMAN
Partner
Morgan Lewis

CHRISTINE M. LOMBARDO
Partner
Morgan Lewis

AMY C. McDONALD
Associate
Morgan Lewis

Jack O’Brien
Partner
Morgan Lewis
New Session: ACA Group
Operational Efficiency and Cost Management in Compliance Departments

Firms are facing a growing number of operational risks, including global pandemics, natural disasters, geopolitical threats, economic crises, and third-party risks like supply chain disruptions. Firms need agility, scalability, and resilience so they can quickly adapt to circumstances and successfully seize opportunities while mitigating continuously evolving risks.

For risk and compliance leaders working under the mandate to maximize efficiency while managing costs and budgetary constraints, strategic use of technology, outsourcing, and hired specialists can help increase efficiencies and manage costs.

Join ACA for a coffee break and conversation as Carlo di Florio, chief services officer; Jack Rader, partner; and Erik Olsen, managing director, discuss how to successfully navigate the future of risk and compliance while effectively managing costs, efficiency, and performance.

CARLO DI FLORIO
Global Services Officer
ACA Group

ERIK OLSEN
Managing Director
ACA Group

JACK RADAR
Partner
ACA Group

1:00–1:20 p.m.

Coffee Break Sponsored by Northern Trust

Take a break between sessions for a coffee break catch-up with Northern Trust!

The coffee break is sponsored by Northern Trust, the premier provider of whole office solutions for some of the world’s most successful and complex asset managers and asset owners. They support and service all fund types across multiple domiciles, from traditional ’40 Act mutual funds, to some of the most complex hedge and private capital structures available today. www.northerntrust.com/united-states/home

Host:

LISA SHEA
Manager, Fund Governance Solutions
Northern Trust

2:20–2:40 p.m.

Coffee Break Sponsored by K&L Gates
Distribution: Embracing Change to Stay Still or Create Competitive Advantage?

“It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.”
—Charles Darwin

Effective global distribution is the holy grail of the funds’ industry.

Hear from K&L Gates partners practicing across Europe, Asia, and Australia on key challenges in distribution and how their clients are navigating these headwinds against an ever more demanding industry and regulatory landscape.

KANE BARNETT
Partner
K&L Gates LLP, Sydney

HILGER VON LIVONIUS
Partner
K&L Gates LLP, Munich

MICHELLE MORAN
Partner
K&L Gates LLP, London

SCOTT PETERMAN
Partner
K&L Gates LLP, Hong Kong