Faegre Drinker Expands London Office With Investment Management Partner Michelle Moran

Faegre Drinker announced today that Michelle Moran has joined the firm as a partner in the investment management group in London. Moran has over 30 years’ experience and has been an active participant at the highest levels of the European asset management practice for much of that time, having served in global leadership positions in private practice and in-house for pre-eminent law firms and asset managers. Moran joins from an international law firm where she led its London asset management and investment funds practice.

Moran is a market-leading adviser to European and American clients on the establishment, authorization, management and distribution of retail and institutional investment funds in the UK, Ireland, Luxembourg and Jersey. She guides clients in all aspects of managing funds including undertakings for collective investment in transferable securities (UCITS), hedge funds, private funds, investment trusts, real estate funds, segregated institutional portfolios, exchange-traded funds and credit funds. She has worked on a wide variety of transactions involving investment managers, brokers, custodians, fund service providers and operating platforms.

Moran’s move to Faegre Drinker underscores the firm’s commitment to growth of the firm’s presence in London, which will be relocating its office this Autumn to the 18th floor at 8 Bishopsgate – a state-of-the-art 50-storey tower located in the heart of the financial district. 

“Michelle has an impressive investment management practice. She is a wonderful addition to Faegre Drinker and a testament to our commitment to providing clients with the most sophisticated guidance in the market,” said London office leader Alex Denny. He added, “This is an exciting time for our London office, building on the strength of recent lateral hires and adding world class talent – like Michelle – to our team. We look forward to sharing more growth in the coming months.”

Moran represents numerous financial institutions on sensitive issues involving EU regulators in both contentious and noncontentious matters. Some of this work has involved significant interaction with the Financial Conduct Authority on matters of high importance. Her extensive regulatory experience includes having participated on the EU Commission working groups responsible for formulating proposals to change UCITS legislation.

“Michelle’s experience in tackling complex issues in the investment management industry and her proven success working with clients is the perfect addition to our practice and we’re thrilled to have her on board,” said investment management group leader David Williams. “Our global clients turn to us for thoughtful advice, and we are excited to expand our investment management service offerings into our London office.” 

Moran served as a member of the Expert Liaison Group and the Investment Bank Advisory Panel formed by HM Treasury to advise on desired policy and legislative change prompted by the financial crisis.

She earned her LLB (Hons) at Queen Mary University of London and completed her Legal Practice Course at London College of Law.

Faegre Drinker’s investment management practice helps clients solve complex regulatory and structural challenges — with an eye to mitigating operational and regulatory risk. We advise national and multinational registered and private funds and their sponsors, investment advisers, broker-dealers and other institutional market participants on business formation and growth. The group draws on deep in-house and industry experience to understand client businesses — and business objectives — and develop bespoke solutions that are practical and forward-thinking.