Overview
James Borrasso is an associate and member of Chapman's Corporate and Securities Department and Investment Management Group. His practice is focused on the formation and operation of exchange-traded funds (ETFs), closed-end funds, unit investment trusts, open-end funds, interval funds, commodity funds, hedge funds, and private equity funds. James advises broker-dealers, investment advisers, and registered investment companies, including advising these entities on a variety of matters pertaining to the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, and other federal securities laws. James also has experience defending closed-end funds against activist campaigns and has advised funds in contested proxy contests. He has also advised clients on general corporate matters.
James started his law career at Chapman after participating in the firm’s summer associate program during law school. Prior to law school, James worked in operations for an investment management firm.
Practice Focus
Admitted
Illinois
Education
University of Illinois College of Law, J.D., summa cum laude, 2018
- Order of the Coif
- Rickert Award for Excellence in Academic Achievement
- Admissions Editor, University of Illinois Law Review
Grinnell College, B.A., 2012
Insights
Publications
- Co-Author, "SEC Proposes Amendments to Beneficial Ownership Reporting Requirements," Client Alert, March 21, 2022
- Co-Author, "Delaware Supreme Court Reverses Chancery Court Holding and Upholds Strict Compliance with Advance-Notice Bylaw Provisions," Client Alert, February 18, 2020
- Co-Author, "SEC Proposes New Rules to Update Statistical Disclosures for Banking Registrants," The Banking Law Journal, January 2020
- Co-Author, "SEC Proposes Modernized Rules for the Use of Derivatives by Registered Investment Companies," Client Alert, November 27, 2019
- Author, "Opening the Floodgates: Providing Liquidity to the Charitable Marketplace Through Changes to Donor-Advised Funds," University of Illinois Law Review, 2018
Presentations
- Presenter “SEC Approves the ‘ETF Rule’,” Chicago Bar Association, Investment Management Subcommittee Meeting, October 29, 2019
- Presenter “SEC Proposes Rule 163B Expanding ‘Testing-the-Waters’ Communications,” Chicago Bar Association, Investment Management Subcommittee Meeting, April 30, 2019
- Presenter “SEC Issues Order and Sanctions Adviser for Improper Cross Trade Pricing Practices,” Chicago Bar Association, Investment Management Subcommittee Meeting, October 30, 2018
