Tom Kennedy is a financial services compliance lawyer with nearly 30 years of experience in the investment management industry. His specific areas of expertise include counseling investment advisory firms (including those who advise private funds including hedge funds, private equity, venture capital and funds of funds, and registered investment companies), broker dealers and banks/trust companies engaged in wealth management and fiduciary activities.
Prior to joining Sadis, Tom worked in-house as Chief Compliance Officer and held various other compliance and legal roles with growing responsibility for well-known banks, investment advisers and broker dealers including Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan, Citigroup, Arden Asset Management, Bessemer Investment Management and First Manhattan Co. Tom served as a ‘40 Act fund complex CCO for large and small open and closed end fund families, including the Old Westbury Funds, Inc. (Bessemer’s open end mutual fund family), the Arden Sage Funds (a closed end fund complex), and he drove the compliance program aspects of the launch of a series of novel liquid alternative open end mutual funds (which were part of the Arden Investment Series Trust), and First Manhattan’s first semi-transparent Exchange Traded Fund (NYSE: FMCX).
As a result of these roles, Tom has gained expertise in investment advisory and anti-money laundering and sanctions laws and regulations. He also possesses international experience with UK approved advisers, Irish UCITS funds, and other European fund and distribution schemes. Tom’s experience with firms, both large and small, gives him a unique understanding of regulatory and compliance program needs for his clients in the asset management business.
Tom has significant examination and liaison experience with various regulatory bodies including the SEC, FINRA, CFTC, NFA, OCC, Federal Reserve, DOL, FCA and others. Tom has appeared before the SEC, and helped regulators shape new regulations, and he has represented his firm in multiple matters; resolving enforcement matters and implementing remediation plans when necessary. Tom also supplied training to asset management examiners multiple times at the SEC, OCC and Fed’s request.
Over the course of his career, he has been a sought-out participant and speaker in various industry group functions. Tom holds a Juris Doctor, cum laude, from St. John’s University School of Law, and a BA in Criminal Justice from Iona University. Tom is licensed to practice law in New York.
