Former CFTC Official Joins Katten in New York

NEW YORK—Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP announced today that Carl E. Kennedy is a new partner in its Financial Services practice in New York, and will focus primarily on the laws and regulation that govern over-the-counter (OTC) and exchange-traded derivatives and advise firms that specialize in those contracts.

"Our clients rely on us to identify business-based solutions and make business-driven decisions that they can be sure are in compliance with applicable laws," said Lance Zinman, global co-chair of Katten's Financial Services practice. "With his extensive experience and deep understanding of all aspects of regulatory compliance, Carl is an excellent addition to our team."

Early in his career, Kennedy was legal counsel at Managed Funds Association (MFA), where he monitored, analyzed and commented on regulatory and legislative developments related to OTC derivatives reform, including advocacy leading up to the passage of the Dodd-Frank Act.

Later, he served as executive director and assistant general counsel at J.P. Morgan Chase in its Corporate and Investment Bank legal department. In that role, Kennedy provided legal advice and support to the bank's macro markets and clearing businesses on a variety of legal and regulatory matters, including issues relating to the implementation of regulations promoted under Dodd-Frank and other global derivatives regulatory reforms.

Prior to that, Kennedy was special counsel and a key policy advisor at the US Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), focusing on a full range of legal, regulatory and policy matters before the CFTC. He played a key role in the commission's adoption of several rulemakings and guidance implementing Dodd-Frank. Kennedy was the primary drafter of several CFTC rulemakings and guidance, including the cross-border application of the CFTC’s swaps regulations and several privacy-related rulemakings under Title X of Dodd Frank.

Most recently, Kennedy was co-lead of the derivatives and commodities practice in the New York office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. At Katten, he will principally service clearinghouses, exchanges, clearing firms and trading firms in the derivatives markets, as well as provide counsel on issues concerning distributed ledger technology and digital assets.

Katten's Financial Services practice offers integrated and comprehensive counsel that helps clients navigate the entire scope of their business including regulatory, transactional, compliance litigation and enforcement, product structuring, tax, and technology matters.