David W. Blass

Practice Areas

David is a leader in the registered funds and asset management regulatory legal industry. He serves as registered fund counsel and counsel to registered funds’ independent trustees. He recently was named as Independent Trustee Counsel of the Year by a major registered funds industry publication (Fund Intelligence’s 2021 Mutual Fund Industry & ETF Awards). David also advises extensively on strategic transactions and reorganizations involving asset managers, and regulatory requirements applicable to those managers.

David has extensive knowledge of the regulatory requirements of the asset management industry, having served as General Counsel of the Investment Company Institute, the trade association for registered investment funds. He also held senior roles for over a decade at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including serving as Associate General Counsel of the SEC, Assistant Director of the Investment Management Division, and Chief Counsel and Associate Director of the Division of Trading and Markets.

David routinely advises on novel products, strategies and transactions across the securities industry, with a particular focus on registered funds.

Career

General Counsel of the Investment Company Institute (ICI); Chief Counsel and Associate Director of the SEC’s Division of Trading and Markets; Associate General Counsel of the SEC; Assistant Director of the SEC’s Investment Management Division. Joined Firm in 2017, as Partner.

Personal

B.A., University of Alabama; J.D., Columbia University School of Law.