Katten announced today that Michael S. Didiuk has joined its New York office as a partner in the Financial Markets and Funds department, bolstering the firm's capabilities in the investment management and crypto space.
Didiuk advises asset managers on all aspects of their business, including structure, governance, compliance obligations under the federal securities laws, registered and private products, US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) examinations and investigations, and strategic transactions.
Highly regarded in the industry, Didiuk brings a wealth of knowledge and comprehensive understanding of the investment management space from his more than 20 years of experience at both the SEC and in private practice, including as co-chair of the Private Investment Funds practice at a top law firm. He has a deep background in federal securities laws, focusing on the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as well as digital asset regulation.
"Mike is a highly seasoned investment management attorney with strong Advisers Act and '40 Act experience," said Lance A. Zinman, Global Chair of Katten's award-winning Financial Markets and Funds department. "His extensive subject matter knowledge and reputation with regulators and across the industry will be enormously helpful to our clients in navigating an uncertain regulatory environment. We're excited to have him."
Didiuk has significant experience advising on the intersection of cryptocurrency and federal securities laws. A frequent speaker and published author on regulatory compliance, examination priorities, and emerging trends in investment management, Didiuk was a featured speaker at this year’s SEC Crypto Task Force Roundtable in Washington, DC, where he discussed the challenges and opportunities related to crypto custody, among other issues.
Didiuk spent more than seven years at the SEC, where he held various roles, including in the Office of Chief Counsel for the Division of Investment Management, and investment management counsel to two SEC commissioners. He also worked in the SEC’s Division of Examinations, where he led examinations of investment advisers, including private fund advisers, advisers to '40 Act funds, and crypto advisers.
"Mike's work at a market regulator lines up with that of our many team members who've held similar positions. It gives him a unique perspective that pairs well with our commitment to ease clients' experience with an often-challenging regulatory environment. I couldn't be more pleased to have him join us," said Carl E. Kennedy, a former Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) regulator who co-chairs Katten's Financial Markets and Regulation practice with Daniel J. Davis, former General Counsel at the CFTC. Didiuk is a member of that practice.
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