- Recommended by The Legal 500 U.S. (2018-2024)
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John's practice is focused on representing asset managers and their affiliates on regulatory, compliance and transactional matters. John represents U.S. and non-U.S. investment advisers as well as mutual funds, hedge funds, real estate funds, bank-managed collective investment funds, private equity funds and venture capital funds. He also represents the independent directors to mutual funds. He regularly interfaces with U.S. regulators on a broad range of matters, including exemptive order applications, no-action letters, registration statements and examination inquiries.
John has significant experience with onshore and offshore money market funds and other types of cash management products. He negotiates on behalf of his clients’ derivatives (ISDA), securities lending and repurchase agreement documentation, as well as custody and distribution arrangements. He also assists asset managers and fund sponsors in organizing and operating U.S. and non-U.S. collective investment vehicles, including registered/publicly offered mutual funds, commodity pools and hedge funds organized in the Luxembourg, Ireland, Australia, the Cayman Islands, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, and many other offshore jurisdictions. Over his career, John has interacted extensively with non-U.S. regulators.
John has practiced corporate law with other national firms in Boston and San Francisco. Prior to that he was the general counsel and chief compliance officer of IXIS Asset Management Global Associates (now Natixis Global Associates) and was responsible for all legal and compliance matters of that firm’s investment advisers, investment funds and distribution companies organized in Luxembourg, Ireland and Australia, as well as its subsidiaries and branches located in Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
We are pleased to offer a collection of Sullivan publications on Investment Management, we hope you will find useful. Click each to view a PDF.
U.S. Regulation of Foreign Investment Advisers
Real Estate Funds & Separately Managed Accounts
Legal Services for Independent Directors of Registered Funds
Ryan Rosenblatt was quoted in Law360's article, "Upon Review: The 2026 World Cup's Biggest Legal Stories," which examines the legal, regulatory and policy disputes that emerged during the 2026 World Cup, including issues involving FIFA's disciplinary decisions, immigration challenges, public art protections and the legal dispute surrounding Gillette Stadium's hosting of World Cup matches. Discussing the agreement reached between FIFA's affiliate Boston 2026 and the Town of Foxborough over security fees
Sullivan & Worcester represented Fattal Hotel Group, owner and operator of 329 hotels across 22 countries and based in Tel Aviv, in its acquisition and financing of The Blakely Hotel in Midtown Manhattan. The acquisition marks the client's first hotel investment in the United States and is a milestone in its evolution from a leading European hospitality operator into a global hotel group. The acquisition was completed on July 7,
Molly Depew will present “Basics of Estate and Trust Administration” at the American Bar Association (ABA)’s Skills Training for Estate Planners, a virtual conference taking place September 17–18 and sponsored by the ABA Real Property, Trust & Estate Law Section. The program offers a streamlined, practice-focused introduction to estate planning for attorneys building skills in trusts and estates. Ideal for young lawyers and those transitioning into the field, the course provides
Hiring a new employee is typically a moment of optimism—and sometimes, the relationship really does go wonderfully for its entire length and ultimately ends on good terms. But when that hope is treated as an assumption, companies make themselves vulnerable. If a client-facing employee does not have a non-solicitation agreement, a business’s customers could be poached. A new employee, hired because of their great industry relationships, might actually have an
Geoffrey Wynne will participate in a panel discussion at ITFA's 52nd Annual International Trade and Forfaiting Conference alongside Ailsa McNeil, Director at Texel, and Hernan Mayol, Board Member and Representative of ITFA Americas and Chair of ITFA’s Latin America Regional Committee (LARC). The session, titled “Financing the future: From defence to critical raw materials,” will be moderated by Clarissa Dann, Editorial Director at Deutsche Bank AG. The session will explore how trade
Sullivan & Worcester was featured in Law360 Real Estate Authority's "NYC Real Estate Week In Review," which highlighted the largest New York City real estate transactions recorded during the week. The publication recognized Sullivan's representation of Fattal Hotel Group in its acquisition of the Blakely Hotel, a Manhattan hospitality property located at 136 West 55th Street. The approximately $38.5 million transaction was among the week's largest deals to hit public records.
The U.S. Congress passed the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act (the “Housing Act”) and presented it to President Trump on June 29, 2026. At midnight on July 10, 2026, the Housing Act became law because the President did not return it to Congress within ten days (Sundays excepted). The Housing Act includes a wide range of housing reforms designed with the goal of making housing more available and affordable. This alert
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) announced on July 7, 2026, the creation of the Retail Fraud Working Group, a new initiative within the Division of Enforcement designed to identify and combat fraud targeting main street investors. The announcement formalizes a priority that SEC Enforcement Director David Woodcock previewed in his May 13, 2026, remarks to the Managed Funds Association Legal & Compliance Conference, reflecting the current Commission’s broader
Douglas Stransky, leader of the firm’s Tax practice group, authored “International M&A and Joint Ventures: Key U.S. Taxation Issues” published by LexisNexis in June 2026. The practice-oriented treatise focuses on the U.S. tax implications of cross-border mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures and incorporates recent legislative changes and international tax developments. It includes practice aids and aims to provide professionals strategies in navigating the complexities of cross-border transactions in an evolving
Simon Cook, in his role as ITFA's Head of Education, will jointly moderate a Q&A on “The next generation: Three emerging leaders, three ideas”, together with Charlie O'Mulloy, chair of ITFA’s Emerging Leader Committee and Associate Banker at EBRD, at ITFA’s 52nd Annual International Trade and Forfaiting Conference in Split, Croatia on September 9. The Q&A will follow the presentations made by the finalists of the 2026 ITFA Emerging Leader
Ryan Rosenblatt was quoted in Law360's article, "Upon Review: The 2026 World Cup's Biggest Legal Stories," which examines the legal, regulatory and policy disputes that emerged during the 2026 World Cup, including issues involving FIFA's disciplinary decisions, immigration challenges, public art protections and the legal dispute surrounding Gillette Stadium's hosting of World Cup matches. Discussing the agreement reached between FIFA's affiliate Boston 2026 and the Town of Foxborough over security fees
Sullivan & Worcester represented Fattal Hotel Group, owner and operator of 329 hotels across 22 countries and based in Tel Aviv, in its acquisition and financing of The Blakely Hotel in Midtown Manhattan. The acquisition marks the client's first hotel investment in the United States and is a milestone in its evolution from a leading European hospitality operator into a global hotel group. The acquisition was completed on July 7,
Molly Depew will present “Basics of Estate and Trust Administration” at the American Bar Association (ABA)’s Skills Training for Estate Planners, a virtual conference taking place September 17–18 and sponsored by the ABA Real Property, Trust & Estate Law Section. The program offers a streamlined, practice-focused introduction to estate planning for attorneys building skills in trusts and estates. Ideal for young lawyers and those transitioning into the field, the course provides
Hiring a new employee is typically a moment of optimism—and sometimes, the relationship really does go wonderfully for its entire length and ultimately ends on good terms. But when that hope is treated as an assumption, companies make themselves vulnerable. If a client-facing employee does not have a non-solicitation agreement, a business’s customers could be poached. A new employee, hired because of their great industry relationships, might actually have an
Geoffrey Wynne will participate in a panel discussion at ITFA's 52nd Annual International Trade and Forfaiting Conference alongside Ailsa McNeil, Director at Texel, and Hernan Mayol, Board Member and Representative of ITFA Americas and Chair of ITFA’s Latin America Regional Committee (LARC). The session, titled “Financing the future: From defence to critical raw materials,” will be moderated by Clarissa Dann, Editorial Director at Deutsche Bank AG. The session will explore how trade
Sullivan & Worcester was featured in Law360 Real Estate Authority's "NYC Real Estate Week In Review," which highlighted the largest New York City real estate transactions recorded during the week. The publication recognized Sullivan's representation of Fattal Hotel Group in its acquisition of the Blakely Hotel, a Manhattan hospitality property located at 136 West 55th Street. The approximately $38.5 million transaction was among the week's largest deals to hit public records.
