Christopher Mendez, a former U.S. Marine Corps member, is an accomplished attorney with over 13 years of legal and compliance experience. He currently holds the position of General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer at a $3.7B asset management firm in New York City. Chris has a vast range of expertise in the investment management industry, working with various entities such as open and closed end registered funds, private funds, and separately managed accounts. In addition to legal and compliance, he also advises on investment adviser and broker-dealer regulatory matters. Before joining his current firm, Chris worked in the Business Law Department of Goodwin Procter LLP, where he offered corporate and securities law guidance. He also holds experience in several legal and compliance positions while attending law school part-time. Chris has a degree in J.D. from Rutgers Law School and B.B.A. from Temple University. Additionally, he enrolled for both degrees part-time under the G.I. Bill while working full-time in asset management. As a frequent industry speaker, Chris shares his expertise at seminars and advises emerging asset management firms, entrepreneurs, and start-ups across different sectors and industries. He is actively involved in several charitable organizations, serving on the board of directors of Volunteers of Legal Service and the CFA Society New York's Veterans Roundtable. He's also a pro bono attorney for the New York City Bar Association's Veterans Assistance Project.