Clay Hufft is a Vice President and Associate General Counsel at AIG Investments. Clay works in the Dallas, Texas office, where he advises internal business clients with respect to private placement transactions and general corporate matters. Clay joined AIG Investments in January 2015. Prior to joining AIG Investments, he was a Senior Associate at Vinson & Elkins LLP in Dallas, Texas, where his practice focused on general corporate finance, restructuring, and reorganization. Clay received a B.A. from Louisiana State University and a J.D., cum laude, from Washington & Lee University School of Law.
Why did you join the ACIC, and how do you hope it will enhance your practice?
Clay joined the American College of Investment Counsel to become better acquainted with the institutional investor community and the individuals who service this community. He is interested in learning from the experiences of others so he can better serve his clients.
Amy Modzelesky is a Managing Director & Counsel for North American Investment Law, which advises the Bond and Corporate Finance Group primarily with respect to private investment transactions. Ms. Modzelesky joined North American Investment Law in September 2015. Prior to that, she was a Senior Associate at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP in New York, New York, where her practice focused on general corporate finance and securities law.
Why did you join the ACIC, and how do you hope it will enhance your practice?
Ms. Modzelesky joined the American College of Investment Counsel to become better acquainted with the institutional investor community and the individuals who service this community. She is interested in learning from the experiences of others and following emerging trends so she can better serve her clients.
Tara Greenberg is Of Counsel in the New York office of Winston and Strawn LLP whose practice focuses on acquisitions and dispositions, debt and equity financings, and general corporate law matters primarily related to energy and infrastructure projects. Ms. Greenberg regularly represents and counsels clients in complex transactions. Such transactions include strategic and financial acquisitions and dispositions, preferred and other equity investments, tax equity financings, senior secured and subordinated debt financings, and leverage lease financings of major energy facilities, project portfolios and other businesses in the gas, solar, wind and waste sectors. Ms. Greenberg received a B.A., cum laude, from Bates College in 2001 and a J.D., cum laude, in 2004 from Brooklyn Law School, where she was associate managing editor of the Journal of International Law. Ms. Greenberg was named in the New York Rising Stars 2011 through 2015 Metro Editions by Super Lawyers for her work in energy & natural resources and mergers & acquisitions.
Why did you join the ACIC, and how do you hope it will enhance your practice?
“As a lawyer in private practice who regularly represents major financial institutions investing in the energy and infrastructure sectors I am often party to many negotiations and discussions as to what is “market” in the industry. I sought to become a fellow of the ACIC in order to collaborate with others who encounter both the complex legal issues facing institutional investors as well as the evolving market practices aiming to address such issues. It is my hope that access to the ACIC’s constituency and its wealth of knowledge (including the library of form documents) will enable me to provide cutting edge guidance to clients as they structure, negotiate and consummate their investments.”
Sarah Valenziano is a Vice President and Corporate Counsel for the Private Placements Section of the law department, located in Minneapolis. Sarah provides legal support to the Minneapolis regional office of Prudential Capital Group. Prior to joining Prudential in 2015, Sarah was a partner in the Minneapolis office of Lindquist & Vennum. Sarah received a BA from Tulane University and a JD from the University of Maryland School of Law.
Why did you join the ACIC, and how do you hope it will enhance your practice?
“In private practice, I focused primarily on mergers and acquisitions. I am hoping that joining the ACIC will help me get more familiar with the private placement market and its participants, while also serving as a resource as I continue to learn about this practice area.”
Paul C. McCoy is a partner at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP. The primary focus of Paul’s practice is representing and counseling clients in the development of, and investment in, private investment funds and related structures in all asset classes. As the Leader of the private equity funds practice at Morgan Lewis, he handles: private fund formation; investments into private funds; the secondary sales of private fund interests, individually, or as a portfolio; as well as formation of complex separate accounts, captive funds, and joint venture arrangements. Paul has a diversified client base, including on the one hand, some of the world’s largest government pensions, private foundations, insurance companies and funds of funds, while also including on the other hand, middle market funds, modest foundations and charities.
Why did you join the ACIC, and how do you hope it will enhance your practice?
“To join together with lawyers who devote a substantial amount of their time representing institutional investors in connection with their investment operations; to receive and provide education with respect to legal issues and market practices affecting institutional investments and investors; to participate in developing, where appropriate, guidelines and uniform documentation for transactions involving institutional investments; and to build collegial relationships to allow for more efficient transactions and communications among myself, my clients and the ACIC’s Fellows.”
Ted Poulsen is Vice President, Legal for Athene Holding Ltd. (“AHL”). His primary responsibilities include acting as senior derivative counsel for Athene companies with oversight obligations relating to all legal matters pertaining to the derivative trading of AHL and its insurance subsidiaries, investment governance matters including compliance with federal law and state derivative and investment laws, negotiation of private placement documentation, assistance with investment litigation matters and advice and assistance generally with respect to legal matters involving interaction between the Athene investment and insurance companies. Ted has been a member of the financial services industry since joining AmerUs Capital Management as Assistant General Counsel in 2003 and has held various positions in investment legal, compliance and risk with AmerUs, Aviva and now Athene since that time. Prior to joining the financial services industry, Ted was a commercial lawyer in private practice for approximately 7 years and a law clerk for the Supreme Courts of Delaware and Iowa. Ted is currently the Chair of the Corporate and Tax Committee and Investment Law Working Group of the Iowa Federation of Insurers and is a member of the Roundtable of Insurers’ Derivative Lawyers.
Why did you join the ACIC, and how do you hope it will enhance your practice?
“I sought to become a member of the American College of Investment Counsel in order to enhance my abilities in investment legal practice generally, by accessing the top quality materials and information generated by the ACIC through its model documentation and seminars and by having the opportunity to closely interact with the wide range of accomplished professionals who are members of the ACIC. The ACIC provides a great opportunity for personal growth, as well as a forum to provide personal insight, through interactions with other experienced professionals in the industry.”
Jennifer Fitzpatrick is Assistant Vice President, Counsel at Pacific Life Insurance Company. Jennifer works in the Newport Beach, California office where she advises internal business clients with respect to private placement transactions and general corporate matters. Jennifer re-joined Pacific Life in May 2015 and previously served in the same role at Pacific Life from 2007 to 2010. Jennifer has also held other in-house corporate counsel positions and has served as a corporate associate in large law firms located in Los Angeles and Boston. Jennifer received her JD from Cornell Law School in 1996 and her BA from Duke University in 1993.
Why did you join the ACIC, and how do you hope it will enhance your practice?
Jennifer joined the ACIC to follow industry trends and to learn from and network with other members.
Brian McMahon is a commercial finance partner at Calfee, Halter & Griswold, focusing on mezzanine financings, private placements, secured financings, asset-based loans, cash flow loans and securitizations. Brian represents financial institutions, insurance companies, private equity funds and corporate borrowers/issuers.
Why did you join the ACIC, and how do you hope it will enhance your practice?
“I joined the ACIC at the suggestion of a client and another attorney who view the ACIC as an important resource for attorneys representing institutional investors. I hope that being an ACIC fellow will broaden and deepen my practice through attendance at ACIC forums and, down the road, active participation on ACIC committees.”
