PHILADELPHIA — Adding further strength to the firm’s robust exchange-traded fund (ETF) capabilities, Brian Murphy, who spent a decade in senior leadership roles at both Vanguard and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), has joined Stradley Ronon as a partner in the firm’s nationally recognized investment management practice. He is based in the firm’s Philadelphia office.
Brian built and led the ETF legal team at Vanguard, the second-largest ETF provider in the United States and one of the world’s largest asset management firms. During his tenure with Vanguard, he led legal teams focusing on product development, portfolio management, fund disclosures, federal and state investment limitations and multiple share class ETF structures. Before joining Vanguard, Brian provided legal advice on issues impacting ETFs and ETF advisers in a broad array of roles at the SEC, such as senior advisor to the director of the Division of Investment Management (IM), counsel to an SEC commissioner and senior counsel in IM’s Office of Chief Counsel.
“Brian has a sterling reputation in the investment management community and an even better reputation among the many Stradley Ronon lawyers who have worked with him directly at the SEC and elsewhere — myself included,” said Sara Crovitz, partner and co-chair of the firm’s investment management practice, who worked with Brian while at the SEC. “His comprehensive background — which covers the entire landscape for funds and advisers — will add tremendous value for our clients.”
At Vanguard, Brian advised on the launch of Vanguard’s first municipal bond index ETF, first suite of actively managed factor ETFs and first ETF of ETFs. He previously chaired the ETF Committee of the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association’s Asset Management Group.
“Stradley Ronon is widely recognized as having one of the finest ’40 Act practices in the country, but what made this decision easy was the people,” said Brian, who also previously worked alongside partners David Grim, Alison Fuller, Michael Mundt and Eric Purple at the SEC. “I am excited to contribute to the historic — and historically excellent — investment management practice at Stradley Ronon.”
With his addition to Stradley Ronon’s 72-lawyer investment management practice, he becomes the 13th member who formerly practiced at the SEC. Brian’s arrival follows investment management partners Mark Attar and Jesse Kanach, who joined the firm’s Washington, D.C., office last month.
About Stradley Ronon
Counseling clients since 1926, Stradley Ronon has helped private and public companies — from small businesses to Fortune 500 corporations — achieve their goals by providing pragmatic, value-driven legal counsel. With offices in nine locations, our responsive team of more than 200 lawyers seamlessly addresses the full spectrum of our clients’ needs, ranging from sophisticated corporate transactions to complex commercial litigation.