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Susan A. Johnston
Partner
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Susan Johnston is one of the country’s leading legal authorities on the tax issues of regulated investment companies (RICs), including mutual funds, and other pooled investment vehicles. Since the emergence of mutual funds and other similar investment vehicles, Susan has developed a wealth of knowledge through her research and work advising many of the leading funds in the country, and their advisors.
Ropes & Gray serves as regular counsel for more than 1,000 mutual funds, their advisers or their independent directors or trustees. In addition, many other funds have come to rely on Susan as their special tax counsel; she is one of a small group of go-to tax lawyers for RICs. Her clients include such marquee names in the industry as Allianz, Columbia, DWS, GMO, Highland Capital, Highmark, Managers, MFS and Natixis.
Her work has earned her recognition from her clients and peers alike. Susan has served as chair of the Regulated Investment Companies Committee of the ABA Tax Section. And she has been recognized annually in the top tier of Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, most recently in 2011, and in the Best Lawyers in America. Clients interviewed by Chambers have given her consistently high reviews:
- “Very experienced, professional, smart, practical and terrific to work with.”
- “A first-rate practitioner with a deserved reputation.”
- “One of the most technical and knowledgeable people in the industry.”
A partner at Ropes & Gray since 1987, and formerly the head of the tax practice, Susan is the author of the landmark treatise, Taxation of Regulated Investment Companies and Their Shareholders, originally published in 1999. She also authored the second edition, published in December 2011. The first major update of the book in more than a decade, this edition was inspired by the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010. The guide provides practical advice and detailed analysis of evolving tax laws as RICs explore new investment opportunities and as they continue to function as standalone entities and, to an increasing degree, as part of complex investment programs.
Advising clients around the country, Susan works out of Ropes & Gray’s Boston and New York offices. She graduated from Wellesley College and earned a J.D. from Harvard Law School.
Honors & Awards
- The Best Lawyers in America (2006-2011)
- Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business (2004-2011)
- PLC Which Lawyer? Yearbook (2011)
- Massachusetts Super Lawyers (2004-2009)
Professional & Civic Activities
Susan has served as chair of the Regulated Investment Companies Committee of the American Bar Association Section of Taxation. She was also Director of the Wellesley Students' Aid Society, Inc.
©1996-2012 Ropes & Gray LLP. All rights reserved.
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PRACTICES
Tax & Benefits
Corporate
Education
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JD, Harvard Law School, 1978
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BA, Wellesley College, 1975
Bar Admissions
- New York, 2006
- Massachusetts, 1978
Memberships & Affiliations
- Member, Investment Company Institute Tax Advisory Board (1988-present)
- Member, American Bar Association Section of Taxation, Committee on Regulated Investment Companies (Chair, 1987-89); and State Tax Committee (1987-89)
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