The Financial Law Forum

In this episode of The Financial Law Forum, we sit down with Lawrence Bosley, a trustee of the New York City Pension Fund to examine how one of the nation’s largest public retirement systems navigates fiduciary duty, investment governance, and evolving stakeholder expectations. With nearly $200 billion under management, the fund plays a critical role not only in securing retirements for hundreds of thousands of public workers, but also in shaping corporate behavior through its position as a major institutional investor.

This conversation offers a substantive look at:

· How trustees interpret and operationalize fiduciary obligations in a complex regulatory environment.

· The fund’s approach to risk management, asset allocation, and manager oversight.

· The legal and strategic considerations behind stakeholder engagement and other initiatives.

For practitioners in law, finance, and compliance, this episode provides a rare, inside perspective on the governance frameworks and decision-making processes that guide one of the most influential public pension systems in the country.

Read the full transcript here: https://www.seyfarth.com/dir_docs/podcast_transcripts/The-Financial-Law-Forum-A-Trustees-View-Inside-the-NYC-Pension-Fund.pdf

In this episode of the Financial Law Forum podcast, join host Tracee E. Davis as she engages in a dynamic discussion with experts Jennifer A. Kraft, Seyfarth Partner in Impact/ESG and Executive Compensation practice groups and Parmjit Sandhu, Tax Principal in KPMG’s Global Reward Services practice. These seasoned professionals delve into critical topics shaping the financial landscape:

1. Executive Compensation: Discover insights into the intricacies of executive pay structures, performance metrics, and the evolving landscape of compensation practices.

2. ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance): Explore how companies are integrating ESG principles into their decision-making processes. Learn about the impact of sustainability initiatives on corporate governance.

3. Backup Data and Metrics Support: Uncover the importance of robust backup data systems in financial institutions. Understand how reliable data supports informed decision-making and risk management.

Do not miss this engaging episode where industry leaders share their expertise and provide valuable perspectives on these crucial aspects of financial law and regulation. Tune in to gain valuable insights and stay informed!

In this episode of The Financial Law Forum, our special guest Jeffrey M. Winn, Assistant Vice President and Senior Claims Director at Chubb Group of Insurance Companies and a regularly-featured book reviewer for The New York Law Journal speaks with us about his most recent book review titled “Expanding America’s Sense of its Own Past” in which he explores and assesses the themes behind Nikole Hannah Jones’ book “The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story.” As a well-read student of American history, Jeff offers a highly unique perspective of the book’s theme of Black Americans’ central role in the development of the country, the social and economic gaps that still exist as a result of the untold history and what may lie ahead by opening a dialogue on advancement opportunities for Black Americans.

In this episode of The Financial Law Forum, our special guest Elena Lazarou, Vice President and Senior Associate General Counsel at Capital One speaks to us about what she is doing to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in her role as a leader, an ally, and someone who consumes legal services on behalf of a major financial institution. We talk about how the client-law firm relationship has evolved, including the many ways to partner when addressing DEI issues, the impact that ESG-styled DEI metrics are having in closing the gap, and the gaps and work that still remains in advancing opportunities for diverse attorneys.

Episode 4 - Advancing Financial Equality: Congressional Appropriation of Billions to Small Financial Institutions Can Narrow the Wealth Gap

Over the last few months, the COVID-19 crisis has disproportionately affected small and minority-owned businesses across the country, many of which found the Payment Protection Program inaccessible. In response, Congress has appropriated $9 billion dollars in funding through the Emergency Capital Investment Program (ECIP) for distribution through a national network of community development and minority-owned financial institutions known as CDFIs and MDIs. With this record-breaking amount of financing potentially available to small and minority owned businesses through CDFIs and MDIs, we discuss the ECIP and advancing equal access to capital in a two-part series. In this first episode, we discuss the role of CDFIs and MDIs in the financial markets with Walter Davis who is a founding member of Peachtree Providence Partners Holding Company, LLC, a private investment and consulting firm which focuses on small to middle market businesses. During our interview, Walter also shares with us his deep knowledge and understanding of the CDFI and MDI network, their funding capabilities to effect small and minority owned businesses and the impact that ECIP may have on closing the financing gap.

Episode 5 - Advancing Financial Equality: How Small and Minority Owned Businesses Can Access New Capital through CDFIs and MDIs

Over the last few months, the COVID-19 crisis has disproportionately affected small and minority-owned businesses across the country, many of which found the Payment Protection Program inaccessible. In response, Congress has appropriated $9 billion dollars in funding through the Emergency Capital Investment Program (ECIP) for distribution through the national network of community development and minority-owned financial institutions known as CDFIs and MDIs. With this record-breaking amount of financing earmarked for small and minority owned businesses through CDFIs and MDIs, we are joined in part two of this series by our Seyfarth partner, Andrew Sherman, to discuss the type of capital available to small and minority owned businesses, the lending process and eligibility requirements and the importance of cultivating a relationship with your local CDFI or MDI. Sharing with us his extensive experience in giving legal and strategic advice on various aspects of business growth, capital formation, and leveraging technology, Andrew also offers some practical tips to small businesses looking to grow and expand by gaining access to this flood of new capital.

In this episode, Tracee E. Davis and Tonya M. Esposito, partners in Seyfarth’s ESG and Consumer Finance Litigation groups, are joined by Agnes Bundy Scanlan, Independent Director on the boards of Truist Bank, N.A., New Tower Trust Company and AppFolio, Inc., to discuss considerations boards of consumer financial services institutions now face with the industry-wide technological transformation underway. Tracee and Tonya focus their conversation specifically on board oversight in the area of information risks management, the market’s move towards sustainability approach to corporate governance and the rising use of artificial intelligence.

In this episode and in recognition of Women’s History month, Tonya M. Esposito and Tracee E. Davis are joined by Elisa Luque, EVP and Head of Global Wealth Management for Guaranty Bank & Trust, N.A. , to discuss industry trends in wealth management, the evolution of financial and professional growth opportunities for women, and the challenges that they still face.

The Financial Law Forum is a monthly podcast focused on the intersection of financial services, the law and equal access to capital and financial opportunities. In this inaugural episode and in recognition of Black History month, Tonya M. Esposito and Tracee E. Davis are joined by Afiya M. Jordan, Vice President and Assistant General Counsel at JPMorgan Chase. Afiya serves in leadership roles for the bank's Legal Diversity Council, Black Organization for Leadership and Development, and Legal Pro Bono Committee. In this capacity, Afiya has been involved in a number of change-making efforts which have had a real and positive impact on the African American community and in communities of color generally.