Morrison Foerster, a leading global law firm, is pleased to announce the arrival of Derek Steingarten as a partner in the firm’s Corporate Department and co-chair of the Investment Management Group, based in New York. Steingarten brings to the firm more than two decades of experience representing fund sponsors and other institutional asset managers. Steingarten joins the firm from K&L Gates.

Steingarten joins Morrison Foerster from another leading global firm where he was a partner for the last six years. He advises clients on a myriad of matters that arise in the lifecycle of an asset management firm. He counsels clients on the complex legal and business challenges related to fund formation, governance, and regulation. Steingarten’s practice spans multiple areas of law, including corporate and securities laws, and integrates ERISA, banking laws, commodities laws, and tax laws, among others. He has many years of board-level experience managing governance and 1940 Act regulatory oversight for registered funds and their service providers, including oversight of investigations and regulatory enforcement and examination responses.

“Derek is an accomplished lawyer who brings exceptionally strong experience in the investment management and funds space, together with an impressive and diverse roster of clients that is highly compatible with ours,” said Eric McCrath, co-chair of Morrison Foerster’s Global Corporate Department. “Derek’s presence bolsters the firm’s investment management and funds practices, while complementing our REIT and capital markets practices and our strengths in the technology and financial industry verticals. His arrival also further enhances our ability to advise clients operating in the investment management, fund formation, M&A, private equity, FinTech, and crypto spaces on their most complex investigations and regulatory enforcement matters.”

Steingarten’s arrival underscores the continued growth of Morrison Foerster’s global Corporate Department. He is the eighth corporate partner to join the firm since the start of this year, following the additions of Matthew Ferry, Michael Glaser, Daphne Higgs, Mike LaPlante, Paul Navarro, Teresa Tate, and Steven Tyndall. Further, his addition underscores the continued growth of the firm’s corporate capabilities in New York in recent years. Steingarten’s addition follows that of Corporate Department co-chair Mitchell Presser and partners Omar Pringle, Aly El Hamamsy, and Larry Medvinsky, all of whom joined the New York office since 2020.

“Morrison Foerster is a sophisticated legal market leader with a standout global platform, exceptional corporate transactions and funds capabilities, and a fantastic culture of collaboration,” said Steingarten. “I’m excited to continue to grow my practice and expand the firm’s investment management and funds footprint here in New York, while working with my new colleagues across the firm’s global offices to help our clients tackle their most complex and multifaceted business challenges.”

Prior to his most recent role, Steingarten was a partner in the financial institutions group at another leading international firm in Boston for 15 years. He has been ranked among leading investment lawyers by prominent legal directories, including Chambers USA and The Legal 500. Earlier in his career, Steingarten worked for the Government of Canada, within both the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Justice. He earned his B.A. with first class honors from McGill University and his LL.B. magna cum laude from the University of Ottawa. Steingarten is admitted to practice in New York and Massachusetts, and is fluent in both French and Spanish.