From L to R: Jack Murphy, Brian Daly, and Natasha Vij Greiner

The Securities Law Program (SLP) at Catholic Law recently celebrated its 42nd annual Securities Law Practice Group Luncheon at the Army Navy Club in Washington, D.C. The event began with a warm welcome from Catholic Law's Dean, Stephen C. Payne, followed by remarks from SLP Director Jack Murphy, who introduced the luncheon’s distinguished speakers: Brian Daly (B.A. '91), Director of the Division of Investment Management at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and Natasha Vij Greiner ('01), Partner at WilmerHale and former Director of the Division of Investment Management. The luncheon provided a platform for an engaging discussion on two timely topics in securities law: private market investments by registered funds and the tokenization of securities.

Murphy set the stage by posing thought-provoking questions to the speakers. On the topic of private market investments, he highlighted the growing interest in offering public investors access to private asset classes through registered fund vehicles. He noted the SEC’s recent steps, such as allowing closed-end funds with significant private fund investments to sell to non-accredited investors without minimum investment requirements. Daly and Greiner explored the regulatory and business challenges this trend presents, including liquidity and valuation concerns. The conversation then shifted to the tokenization of securities, with Murphy addressing the rise of money market funds issuing tokenized securities recorded on blockchain. The speakers delved into the unique risks associated with tokenized funds compared to traditional ones, sparking a dynamic discussion on the evolving landscape of securities regulation.

From L to R: Audrey Anderle and Hali Woods both pictured with Jack Murphy

Following a lively Q&A session with the audience, Murphy thanked the speakers and concluded the event by recognizing this year’s Securities Scholarship recipients: Hali Woods, Atticus Keane, and Audrey Anderle. Dean Payne returned to the podium to share updates on the law school and express gratitude to attendees for their continued support. The event wrapped up as it began, with alumni and students networking, sharing experiences, and strengthening bonds within the Catholic Law community.

Reflecting on the event, Murphy remarked, "I want to thank all those who attended the luncheon, which was a tremendous success. I also want to thank our speakers again—Brian Daly and Natasha Greiner—for a terrific discussion of some current issues." To help alumni and students stay connected and continue the conversations sparked at the luncheon, the Securities Law Practice Group now has a dedicated LinkedIn group, which can be found here.