Susan A. Johnston is one of the country’s leading legal authorities on the tax issues of regulated investment companies (RICs), including mutual funds, and other pooled investment vehicles. Since the emergence of mutual funds and other similar investment vehicles, Susan has developed a wealth of knowledge through her research and work advising many of the leading funds in the country, and their advisors.
Ropes & Gray serves as regular counsel for more than 2,000 mutual funds, their advisers or their independent directors or trustees. In addition, many other funds have come to rely on Susan as their special tax counsel; she is one of a small group of go-to tax lawyers for RICs.
Her clients include such marquee names in the industry as Allianz, AMG, Columbia, Cohen & Steers, DoubleLine, Deutsche Funds, GMO, MFS, Natixis, ProFunds, ProShares, Stone Harbor and Stone Ridge fund groups.
A partner at Ropes & Gray since 1987, and formerly the head of the tax practice, Susan is the author of the landmark treatise, Taxation of Regulated Investment Companies and Their Shareholders, originally published in 1999 and the second edition of which was published in December 2011.
The first major update of the book in more than a decade, this edition was inspired by the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010. It provides practical advice and detailed analysis of evolving tax laws as RICs explore new investment opportunities and as they continue to function as standalone entities and, to an increasing degree, as part of complex investment programs.
EDUCATION :
- JD, cum laude, Harvard Law School, 1978
- BA, Durant Scholar ( summa cum laude), Wellesley College, 1975
ADMISSIONS :
- New York, 2006
- Massachusetts, 1978
MEMBERSHIP & AFFILIATIONS :
- Member, Investment Company Institute Tax Advisory Board (1988-present)
- Member, American Bar Association Section of Taxation, Committee on Regulated Investment Companies (Chair, 1987-89); and State Tax Committee (1987-89)
PROFESSIONAL & CIVIC ACTIVITIES :
Susan has served as chair of the Regulated Investment Companies Committee of the American Bar Association Section of Taxation. Susan has been an active member of the Tax Advisory Committee to the Investment Company Institute for more than 20 years.
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