Morris, Manning & Martin Strategically Expands Funds & Alternative Investments Practice with New Partner Addition

WASHINGTON, Feb. 23, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP, a national leader in alternative investments in the funds and real estate capital markets, announced it is strategically expanding its Funds & Alternative Investments Practice with the addition of Margaret R. A. Paradis as partner.  The firm's Funds & Alternative Investments Practice includes 25 lawyers from multiple areas of legal specialization.  In the past three years, Morris, Manning & Martin has closed more than $15 billion in transactions/offerings for alternative investments.

Formerly a partner with Baker & McKenzie in New York, Paradis will be resident in Morris, Manning & Martin's Washington, DC office. She is an investment fund and asset management lawyer with extensive experience advising managers on structuring, formation, operation and regulation of alternative funds, and also advises institutional investors on their alternative fund investing.  Paradis has expertise in the securities laws for public and private investment funds, as well as the related broker-dealer and banking law issues.  She focuses her practice on fund and other advisory product development for the U.S. and global markets.  Paradis counsels managers, advisers and broker-dealers on the expanding universe of compliance issues, including registration, disclosure annual reviews/mock audits, investigations, and examinations.  She also advises on fiduciary standards and responsibilities applicable to asset management and other financial services.  

"Adding an attorney of Margaret's caliber to our Funds & Alternative Investments Practice is a strategic win for us," offered Louise M. Wells, Managing Partner.  "We view growth of this practice area and our DC-office as pivotal to our long-term goals and objectives.  Last year ended extremely well for us and we have every expectation that 2011 will continue or improve upon our success.  The year has begun on a series of very strong notes."

Paradis has fluent knowledge of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, and in-depth knowledge of the legal issues posed by the evolving mix of advisory, brokerage and banking services offered by financial firms.  

Well known within the 'Wall Street' community, Paradis is a frequent speaker on issues of interest to financial firms and institutional investors, most recently discussing the ramifications of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010.  She also is frequently sought out for commentary by leading national media organizations on regulatory issues impacting brokerages.  Paradis received her LL.M. from New York University School of Law, J.D. from St. John's University and B.A.  degree, cum laude, from Vassar College.

Morris Manning & Martin launched its Funds & Alternative Investments Practice in December, 2010 and recently added two fund-focused of counsel.  The launch of the Practice and the expansion of the Washington office through the addition of Paradis are well timed to respond to the unprecedented expansion of regulation of alternative fund managers in the US and non-US markets. The Funds & Alternative Investments Practice utilizes an interdisciplinary approach, including its Real Estate Capital Markets, Timberland and Insurance-Linked Securities practices, to represent alternative investment entities that raise and deploy capital.  

About Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP

Morris, Manning & Martin (www.mmmlaw.com) is a full-service law firm with national and international reach.  We dedicate ourselves to the constant pursuit of our clients' success.  To provide our clients with optimal value, we combine market-leading legal services with a total understanding of their needs to maximize effectiveness, efficiency and opportunity.  MMM enjoys national prominence for its real estate, litigation, technology, healthcare, intellectual property, capital markets, environmental, green industry, insurance, mergers & acquisitions and timberland & forest products practices.  MMM has offices in Atlanta, Raleigh-Durham, Savannah, Taipei, Beijing and Washington, D.C. and an alliance with FGCN in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

SOURCE Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP