CHICAGO – Feb. 20, 2015 – The lawyers from the respected boutique law firm Henderson Law LLP have added their financial services practice to the Investment Management Group in the Chicago office of international law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP. Jeffry M. Henderson and Harris L. Kay have joined the firm as shareholders; Douglas E. Arend and Robert B. Christie as of counsel; and Douglas M. Grom as a practice group attorney.
“We are very excited to have Jeff and his team join us,” said John F. Gibbons, co-managing shareholder of Greenberg Traurig’s Chicago office. “Their dedication to client service and excellence in the delivery of legal service within a truly collaborative setting makes this move a win-win. They have represented leaders in the financial services industry for over 25 years and have extensive experience in securities, futures, derivatives, commodities, and forex matters, and provide formation, governance, litigation, transactional and compliance representation. We look forward to working with them and making their substantial experience and skills available to our clients.”
“We have been asked by numerous firms over the last several years to consider moving our financial services practice to their firms,” Henderson said. “Until very recently, we believed our clients were best served by remaining a boutique practice. After meeting with many of their attorneys and carefully considering this opportunity, we have decided that joining Greenberg Traurig would be best for our current and future clients.”
“This move will enable us to substantially expand our range of services. Greenberg Traurig has offices throughout the United States and in various overseas locations, including London, Amsterdam, Warsaw, Shanghai, Mexico City, Seoul, Tel Aviv and Tokyo. We are excited about the opportunities this will provide. Clients can expect the same high-quality, experienced, focused, and efficient representation that they have received over the past 25 years.”
Henderson focuses his practice on a wide variety of compliance, regulatory, litigation, and managed fund matters. He advises broker-dealers, investment advisers, introducing brokers, futures commission merchants, forex dealer members, commodity pool operators, commodity trading advisors, and hedge fund managers regarding futures, derivatives, forex, and securities matters. He is also routinely involved in regulatory work and defending member firms before the SEC, CFTC, NFA, and FINRA. He advises a variety of proprietary trading firms and exempt investment managers regarding regulatory and enforcement matters. He earned his LL.M in Financial Services from Chicago-Kent College of Law, his J.D. from the John Marshall School of Law and his B.A. from St. Norbert College.
Kay focuses his practice on counseling financial services firms and individuals regarding a wide variety of registration, compliance, regulatory, and litigation matters. He represents futures commission merchants, introducing brokers, broker-dealers, forex firms, investment advisers, commodity pool operators, and commodity trading advisors in regulatory inquiries and investigations before CFTC, SEC, FINRA, NFA, and various exchanges. He regularly defends registrants in federal and state court litigation and in CFTC reparations proceedings, as well as in the FINRA and NFA arbitration forums. He earned his J.D. from the University of Richmond School of Law and his B.A. from the College of William & Mary.
Arend focuses his practice in the areas of commodity futures, derivatives and securities with an emphasis on managed funds. He represents registered and exempt investment advisers, commodity pools and hedge funds, proprietary trading firms, introducing brokers, futures commission merchants, and broker-dealers. He concentrates on complex transactional and regulatory matters, including public and private offerings, fund formation, business structuring, registration, and compliance. His public fund experience includes SEC registered offerings, 10-K and 10-Q disclosures, and compliance with the Dodd-Frank Act, Commodity Exchange Act, and CFTC regulations. He earned his J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School and his B.A. from the University of Michigan.
Christie focuses his practice on commodities and securities litigation, in addition to commercial and employment litigation. He represents clients in connection with enforcement actions and regulatory matters before federal courts and the CFTC, SEC, NFA, FINRA, and various exchanges. He is experienced defending clients in arbitration at NFA, FINRA, CME, and other arbitration forums, as well as representing clients in CFTC reparations proceedings and state and federal courts. His business litigation experience includes representing clients in employee actions concerning federal and state discrimination laws, non-compete agreements, and general commercial disputes. He earned his J.D. from DePaul University College of Law and his B.S.B.A. and B.S.C.S. from Kansas State University.
Grom focuses his practice on transactional, regulatory, and litigation matters in the commodities and derivatives industry. He counsels futures commission merchants, commodity trading advisors, commodity pool operators, introducing brokers, proprietary trading firms, and investment advisers. He is regularly involved in litigation in state and federal courts and in industry arbitrations and mediations before the National Futures Association and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. He also represents registrants in connection with FCM bankruptcies. Additionally, he represents clients in general corporate matters, including business formation and licensing. He earned his J.D., cum laude, from the John Marshall Law School, and his B.S. and B.A., cum laude, from the University of Missouri.