Tiedemann Advisors – one of the largest independent U.S. investment and wealth advisors for ultra-high-net-worth families, trusts, foundations and endowments – has tapped Dallas lawyer Whitney Fogle Lewis to be its chief compliance officer and deputy general counsel.
Lewis, a Harvard law grad who practiced at Skadden and Vinson & Elkins early in her career, has spent the past seven years at Dallas alternative asset management firm Carlson Capital, rising from associate counsel to deputy chief legal officer.
Tiedemann Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel Kevin Moran said Lewis’ “extensive experience executing regulatory compliance efforts and proven leadership qualities will enable us to promote efficiency and accuracy across our organization.”
Moran, who is based in New York, and Lewis will serve as the primary legal advisors for Tiedemann, which has nine offices across the U.S.
Lewis spoke with The Texas Lawbook about the move.
The Lawbook: Why did you make the move to Tiedemann?
Lewis: The values-driven and mission-oriented approach Tiedemann takes to its people and its business drew me to the firm. I also couldn’t pass up the opportunity to partner with a talent like Kevin Moran, the COO and General Counsel, in addressing myriad exciting legal matters and to lead the compliance department of such a dynamic business.
The Lawbook: What are two or three highlights from your time at Carlson Capital?
Lewis: Coordinating cross-departmental efforts to bring the firm into compliance with the alphabet soup of significant European regulatory developments, including MiFID II, GDPR, and SMCR, was a highlight of my time. Each of these regimes was a real lift for the firm, on top of our day jobs, and it was immensely fulfilling to master new areas of law, apply them to our business, and steer fellow senior leaders through the implementation process.
I also relished the opportunity to facilitate the firm’s translation of public policy priorities into action. Whether it was developing and implementing a robust paid parental leave policy for primary and non-primary caregivers or drafting the firm’s Responsible Business Policy, detailing corporate social responsibility efforts, helping the firm “walk the talk” was personally meaningful.
The Lawbook: How did your time at Skadden and V&E prepare you for going in-house?
Lewis: At its root, being in-house is a client services role, and your fellow business leaders are your clients. World-class law firms provide tremendous preparation for this. At Skadden and V&E, I learned how to (i) distill voluminous and complex information; (ii) translate corporate priorities into action; (iii) manage competing objectives and diverging personalities; and (iv) consistently deliver quality advice and work product. These firms also cultivated critical interpersonal skills; to be effective in-house, you must excel at building relationships and be an intentional partner in crafting solutions.
The Lawbook: What issues/topics are “keeping you up at night”?
Lewis: The ever-changing regulatory landscape and its implications for our business remain top of mind. Legal and compliance departments must be constantly evolving to enable firms to accomplish business objectives while upholding regulatory standards. I’m focused on staying on top of relevant developments and being nimble in determining practical, value-additive approaches to the needs of our firm and our clients.
The Lawbook: What are one or two things you are most proud of relating to your community and nonprofit board service?
Lewis: Given the demands of my professional life, I’ve had to be focused and intentional when it comes to impacting my community. I’m passionate about driving equity, and for me, this means creating access and equipping folks with resources to level the playing field. I’ve been able to put this passion into practice (i) as a board member for Young Women’s Preparatory Network (YWPN), a non-profit operator of all-girls, public college preparatory schools providing enhanced educational opportunities to economically disadvantaged students; (ii) as a founding member and board member for The NEW Roundtable, a non-profit organization driving the inclusion and advancement of black women attorneys; and (iii) as a TX Steering Committee member for DAPP Direct, a job-placement and career-readiness program for women of color law students. This is one of my favorite times of the year from a volunteer perspective as I get to celebrate my YWPN high school mentee’s college admissions and gear up for supporting a new class of law students through DAPP’s transformational summer internship experience.
The Lawbook: Is there anything else our readers should know about you?
Lewis: My husband (Pizza Hut Chief Equity Officer Chequan Lewis), our two kids (4 and 1), and I are proud Oak Cliff residents; while we love the city as a whole, our favorite weekends are those spent without leaving southern Dallas.