Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Affiliations And Leadership
Certification
Core Skills And Expertise
Timeline
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Kelly Whetstone

Scarborough

Summary

Dynamic and results-driven General Counsel with 20+ years of experience in financial services, specializing in broker-dealer and investment adviser regulations, M&A transactions, corporate governance, and global regulatory oversight. Proven ability to lead legal teams, manage complex regulatory frameworks, and drive strategic business growth. Adept at navigating SEC and FINRA regulations, structuring transactions, and overseeing litigation and compliance matters.

Overview

22
22
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Deputy General Counsel

ACA Group (formerly Foreside Financial Group)
01.2017 - Current


  • Lead legal, risk, corporate governance, and due diligence teams, providing strategic counsel on regulatory compliance, M&A, and corporate governance
  • Oversee global corporate governance, intellectual property, and insurance, ensuring compliance with international regulatory requirements
  • Directed more than a dozen asset and equity acquisitions, including a complex merger between Foreside Financial Group and ACA Group
  • Spearheaded the implementation of a contract management system housing 40,000+ client agreements, improving turnaround time by 100%
  • Managed multi-year, billion-dollar class action litigation and regulatory examinations with the SEC, FINRA, and FCA
  • Established and governed various subsidiaries, including an investment manager and broker-dealer
  • Developed and implemented GDPR and privacy compliance programs
  • Served as Chief Compliance Officer of subsidiary investment adviser


Senior Director & Corporate Counsel

NRECA / Homestead Funds
01.2007 - 01.2017
  • Advised the board and senior leadership on mutual fund, investment adviser, and broker-dealer regulations
  • Served as Corporate Secretary for the mutual fund board
  • Led SEC and FINRA examinations, ensuring compliance with evolving regulations
  • Developed and executed complex regulatory implementations, including money market reform and DOL fiduciary standards

Associate

Bell, Boyd & Lloyd
01.2005 - 01.2007
  • Provided legal counsel on investment management matters, servicing mutual funds, ETFs, hedge funds, investment advisers, and broker-dealers

Associate

Seward & Kissel LLP
01.2003 - 01.2005
  • Provided legal counsel on investment management matters, servicing mutual funds, ETFs, hedge funds, investment advisers, and broker-dealers

Education

MBA -

Florida State University
01.2010

JD -

University of Virginia
01.2003

BA - Comparative Literature, Minor in Latin

University of Virginia
01.2000

Skills

  • Broker-Dealer, Investment Adviser, and Mutual Fund Regulation
  • SEC & FINRA Compliance
  • Mergers and Acquisitions
  • Corporate Governance & Board Advisory
  • Global Insurance and IP Oversight
  • Contract Negotiation & Risk Management
  • Litigation & Regulatory Enforcement
  • Strategic Leadership & Team Management

Affiliations And Leadership

  • Director & Secretary, Association of Corporate Counsel, Northeast Chapter
  • Vice President & Trustee, Eastern Trail Alliance
  • Frequent speaker on regulatory compliance and financial services law

Certification

  • Member of the New York, Washington, DC, and Maine bars
  • FINRA Series 6, 7, 26, 63, and 66 Licenses

Core Skills And Expertise

  • Broker-Dealer, Investment Adviser, and Mutual Fund Regulation
  • SEC & FINRA Compliance
  • Mergers and Acquisitions
  • Corporate Governance & Board Advisory
  • Global Insurance Oversight
  • Contract Negotiation & Risk Management
  • Litigation & Regulatory Enforcement
  • IP Management
  • Strategic Leadership & Team Management

Timeline

Deputy General Counsel

ACA Group (formerly Foreside Financial Group)
01.2017 - Current

Senior Director & Corporate Counsel

NRECA / Homestead Funds
01.2007 - 01.2017

Associate

Bell, Boyd & Lloyd
01.2005 - 01.2007

Associate

Seward & Kissel LLP
01.2003 - 01.2005

MBA -

Florida State University

JD -

University of Virginia

BA - Comparative Literature, Minor in Latin

University of Virginia
Kelly Whetstone