Bibb L. Strench is a Counsel in the Washington, D.C. office of Seward & Kissel LLP. Mr. Strench's practice focuses on investment advisers, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds and separately managed account sponsors. He provides advice on regulatory, compliance, entity formation, auditor independence, corporate governance and other issues related to the operation of the aforementioned businesses.
During his career, Mr. Strench has played a role in a number of significant legal developments impacting the investment management industry. He helped form the first Shariah-compliant exchange-traded fund, he assisted NCCUSL with the development of the model statutory trust entity act, he was recognized as a contributor to Investment Company Institute's Report of the Advisory Group on Best Practices of Fund Directors and he argued Investment Company Act of 1940 issues in federal and state courts in the landmark mutual fund independent director case (Yacktman v. Carson, et al.).
Mr. Strench began his career as a staff attorney in the Division of Investment Management of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission where he was principally responsible for granting exemptive orders and responding to no-action and interpretive requests under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. Mr. Strench also formerly held the position of corporate counsel at SAFECO Asset Management, Inc., an investment adviser located in Seattle, Washington.
He is a member of the CCH Wall Street Compliance Advisory Board, Investment Lawyer Editorial Board and other advisory boards. Mr. Strench frequently speaks on issues surrounding investment management and securities regulation.
Mr. Strench received his J.D. from University of Virginia School of Law and B.A. from Vanderbilt University, 1984.