Key Takeaways
- • MFA (Managed Funds Association) has appointed Bryson Kern as Vice President & Senior Counsel, Regulatory Affairs, positioning him to lead the organization's tax advocacy efforts across the alternative asset management industry.
- • Kern brings a decade-plus background in tax law and investment fund structuring, having served as Tax Knowledge Management Attorney at McDermott Will & Schulte LLP and previously spent approximately 10 years at Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP advising on federal tax matters for investment funds.
- • His mandate encompasses working directly with MFA members, policymakers, and regulators on legislative and regulatory developments, with particular focus on advancing pro-growth tax policies affecting capital markets and alternative asset managers.
- • Kern holds an Executive LL.M. in Taxation from New York University School of Law and a J.D. from Fordham University School of Law, providing advanced technical credentials for complex tax policy work.
- • The appointment reflects MFA's strategic emphasis on strengthening tax expertise as the organization addresses what CEO Bryan Corbett characterizes as "consequential issues facing our industry" with direct market and economic implications.
Summary
Kern's professional background includes approximately 10 years at Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP (McDermott Will & Schulte's predecessor firm), where he advised clients on federal tax matters with a specialized focus on investment fund structures and alternative asset management. This experience positions him to advise MFA's membership on complex tax issues spanning hedge funds, private equity, and related alternative investment vehicles. His technical role will involve coordinating with members, policymakers, and regulatory agencies on matters ranging from legislative proposals to regulatory interpretations.
Jennifer Han, MFA's Chief Legal Officer and Head of Global Regulatory Affairs, stated that Kern's "extensive tax law experience and deep understanding of the issues facing alternative asset managers" would strengthen the organization's advocacy capacity. Bryan Corbett, MFA President and CEO, framed the appointment in broader economic terms, noting that "tax policy has significant implications for markets, investors, and economic growth," and that Kern would support the organization's work on critical industry issues. Kern earned an Executive LL.M. in Taxation from New York University School of Law and a J.D. from Fordham University School of Law, providing advanced credentials for regulatory and legislative analysis.
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