The Intersection Between Law and Alternatives with Cassandra Borchers

Episode 011: In this episode of Alternative Universe, Steve talks with Cassandra Borchers, Investment Management Partner and Chair of the Blockchain & Cryptocurrencies group at Thompson Hine. Cassandra's practice has focused primarily on securities, investment capital, cryptocurrency and blockchain, corporate representation and governance, counseling mutual funds, ETFs, and closed-end interval funds. She has assisted companies in securities offerings, including mutual funds, commodity pools, private equity, fund formation, registration, mergers, and reorganizations. Cassandra talks with Steve about the intersection of law and alternative investments. She discusses the evolving regulatory space and the importance of compliance in alternative investments. Cassandra also delves into the growing presence of cryptocurrencies and emphasizes the significance of technology advancements, such as tokenization and blockchain, in shaping the future of alternative investments. Join us as we discuss: [02:15] - How Cassandra got into the alternative space. [05:34] - The challenges facing fund managers in alternative investments. [07:32] - The growing interest in cryptocurrencies. [10:03] - Overview of Thompson Hine and its investment management group. [12:54] - Thompson Hine's innovative approach to helping clients start funds. [16:03] - Misconceptions in private investments. [19:28] - How regulators protect mainstream investors. [22:39] - The transition from registered investment advisor to fund manager. [26:59] - Secondary markets and their regulatory advancements. [30:43] - The potential for redefining accredited investors. Key Takeaways The regulation of cryptocurrency is expanding and evolving worldwide. The approval of Spot Bitcoin ETFs marks a new era of the acceptance of crypto as a mainstream investment. Tokenization offers new opportunities for investors. Compliance is crucial in the alternative investment space, and having a strong compliance team and legal advisors is essential for navigating the complex regulatory landscape. Technology advancements, such as AI and blockchain, are revolutionizing the industry by improving efficiency, enabling secondary markets, and enhancing investor experiences. Quotes "The regulations have expanded in all sorts of ways. You need to have a strong compliance team, legal advisors, and groups like Mammoth to make sure that you're properly serving your clients." ~ Cassandra Borchers "Alternatives are not just in the private fund markets. There are a lot of optionalities out there, depending on the type of investor or advisor you are and who your clients are. There are ways to get people exposure." ~ Cassandra Borchers "Crypto is here to stay. Regulation is expanding and evolving here in the US, and there's a lot of movement going on everywhere. Bitcoin is definitely not going away, and we're moving into a new era." ~ Cassandra Borchers Links Cassandra Borchers on LinkedIn Cassandra Borchers Email Thompson Hine LLP Connect with our hosts Mammoth Steve on LinkedIn Subscribe and stay in touch Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube Google Podcast Disclosure All content on this podcast is for informational purposes of a general nature only, and does not address any particular individual or investment. Nothing in this podcast constitutes accounting, legal, tax, financial or other professional advice. The discussion on this podcast of any entity, product or service does not imply an endorsement thereof, and the podcast participants may have a financial interest, whether through investment or otherwise, in one or more of any such entities, products or services. Please seek independent advice from a financial professional about your investment needs.