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Overview
Jessica is a partner at Tonkon Torp and co-chairs the firm’s Financial Services & Investment Management Practice Group. Her practice focuses on advising investment funds, including private equity funds, financial institutions and investment advisors, compliance audits, closely-held businesses, and family owned businesses, and she has represented clients in a variety of industries.
Jessica is the Associate Executive Director of the Oregon Facilities Authority (OFA), an Oregon state agency housed at Tonkon Torp. Her responsibilities with OFA include compliance, SNAP Bond marketing, and facilitating OFA transactions. The Oregon Facilities Authority has issued over $3 billion in bonds in its history.
Jessica's work for investment management clients includes:
Jessica is the Associate Executive Director of the Oregon Facilities Authority (OFA), an Oregon state agency housed at Tonkon Torp. Her responsibilities with OFA include compliance, SNAP Bond marketing, and facilitating OFA transactions. The Oregon Facilities Authority has issued over $3 billion in bonds in its history.
Jessica's work for investment management clients includes:
- Advising on regulatory compliance of SEC and state rules and regulations, compliance policies and procedures, code of ethics, state and federal regulatory requests, state and federal regulatory filings, and GLBA privacy.
- Drafting of merger and acquisitions transaction documents, investment management and advisory agreements, solicitation agreements and disclosure documents.
- Prepared offering documents for investment funds and fund managers.
- Drafting corporate transaction documents and counseling on business matters.
- Corporate and investment fund formation - LLCs, corporations, LPs.
- Participation in board meetings, preparation and advice on corporate governance.
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Get To Know
When out of the office, Jessica enjoys time with her husband and two young children, and she is an enthusiastic runner who has competed in Hood to Coast, Pole Pedal Paddle and other Oregon athletic events. She also has taught hip hop dance and kickboxing at Portland State University.
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Featured Representative Matters
Private Investment Companies
Represents private investment companies and their investment advisors on their ongoing acquisition, financing, regulatory compliance, securities, and general business matters.
Private Investment Funds
Represents private investment funds on initial formation, capital structure and securities offering documents.
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Featured Work
Tonkon Torp Represents Vestas in Acquisition of UpWind Solutions
Tonkon Torp represented its client Vestas, the world's largest manufacturer of wind turbines, in the acquisition of UpWind Solutions, Inc., an independent service provider for wind power plants in nine US states. The $60 million acquisition furthers Vestas's strategic objectives for its North America service business.
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Community Involvement & Activities
Oregon State Bar Cannabis Law Section
2019-Present, Executive Committee
Oregon State Bar House of Delegates
2016-Present, Region 5, Delegate
Oregon Club of Portland
2015-2018, Board of Directors
2017-2018, Secretary
Executive Committee
Greater Portland Compliance Association
Board of Directors
2011-2013, Secretary
Portland Business Alliance
Leadership Portland Class of 2016
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Professional Memberships
Multnomah Bar Association
Oregon Women Lawyers
PDX BizWomen Coalition
Oregon Women Lawyers
PDX BizWomen Coalition
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Awards & Recognition
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Recent News
11.6.2020
Tonkon Torp Attorneys Host Briefing for Greater Portland Compliance Association
Tonkon Torp hosted a virtual informational session for the Greater Portland Compliance Association (GPCA). Attorneys from Tonkon Torp’s Financial Services & Investment Management and Information Privacy & Security groups provided a comprehensive…
5.19.2020
Financial Services Attorneys Host COVID-19 Impact Webinar for Investment Advisors
Tonkon Torp Financial Services attorneys Jessica Morgan, Christopher Pallanch and Jarell Hunt hosted a webinar for investment advisors and private fund managers to explore how COVID-19 has impacted regulations, compliance requirements, examinations…
5.14.2020
Tonkon Torp Holds Pandemic Primer Webinar for Oregon Cannabis Businesses
Tonkon Torp hosted a webinar to help guide cannabis businesses through the unique challenges that the cannabis industry faces due to COVID-19. The panel featured attorneys Danica Hibpshman, Jessica Morgan, Ferdie Ruplin, and David Petersen. Alex…
4.24.2020
Sherrill Corbett and Jessica Morgan Explore Cannabis Business Transition Strategies for PBJ Podcast
Sherrill Corbett and Jessica Morgan were featured guests on the April 8 episode of the Portland Business Journal’s Thought Leadership Podcast. Their episode explored smart transition strategies for businesses in the cannabis industry.
2.6.2020
Four Tonkon Torp Attorneys Appointed to OSB Section Executive Committees
Four Tonkon Torp attorneys have been appointed to the Executive Committees of their respective Oregon State Bar (OSB) sections.
1.31.2020
Sherrill Corbett and Jessica Morgan Lead M&A Panel for Oregon Cannabis Association
Tonkon Torp partners Sherrill Corbett and Jessica Morgan led a panel discussion on M&A in the cannabis industry at the Oregon Cannabis Association member happy hour. Tapping into their experience of helping clients sell or seek investment in a…
10.7.2019
Tonkon Torp Sponsors and Presents at Retreat for Female-led Cannabis Companies
Tonkon Torp attorneys Sherrill Corbett, Jessica Morgan, and Kristin Bremer Moore were featured speakers at Females to the Front, a retreat for women founders in the cannabis space hosted by The Initiative.
9.30.2019
Tonkon Torp Attorneys Hold Briefing for Greater Portland Compliance Association
Attorneys from Tonkon Torp’s Financial Services & Investment Management and Labor & Employment practice groups provided a briefing for chief compliance officers for investment advisers and broker dealers.
12.26.2018
Tonkon Hosts Seminar for Women Business Leaders
On November 28, Tonkon Torp co-hosted “Thrive,” a seminar for women business leaders, with KeyBank and Geffen Mesher. The annual seminar was attended by over 100 women who hold leadership positions in area businesses. The program featured a panel…
10.9.2018
Tonkon Torp Attorneys Lead Education Meeting for Greater Portland Compliance Association
On September 20, attorneys from Tonkon Torp’s Financial Services & Investment Management and Corporate Finance & Transactions practice groups hosted CCO's from investment advisers and broker dealers for the Greater Portland Compliance Association…
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Recent Alerts
4.21.2020
Tips on Looking for Funding for Your Cannabis Company
Funding a business with startup or growth capital is a universal challenge, but cannabis businesses face at least one unique hurdle in the continuing federal illegality of the industry. Aside from the difficulty in accessing banking resources…
11.18.2019
SEC Proposes Amendments to Advertising and Solicitor Rules
On November 4, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced proposals to amend Rules 206(4)-1 and 206(4)-3 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (Act). The proposed amendments are aimed at modernizing these rules.
9.10.2019
5 Ways To Gain High Ground While Selling a Cannabis Company
Notwithstanding federal law, a sign of the maturing cannabis and CBD markets is the sharp rise in M&A activity to build scale and market share. Marijuana Business Daily notes that as of August 2019, 233 M&A transactions were completed in the U.S…
6.27.2018
Supreme Court Throws Out SEC Administrative Law Judge Process
On June 21, 2018, the Supreme Court of the United States invalidated the process that the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") had been using to appoint administrative law judges. Staff from the SEC had selected administrative law judges as…
4.3.2018
Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act
We previously talked about recent changes to Oregon law and FINRA rules relating to elder abuse prevention and the prosecution of financial services companies for noncompliance. This article focuses on The Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act…
2.7.2018
SEC's Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations Priorities for 2018
On February 7, 2018, the Security and Exchange Commission's Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations announced its 2018 examination priorities. For 2018, OCIE's priorities fit into five broad categories.
1.9.2018
New “Financial Abuse” Mandatory Reporting Requirements for Oregon Investment Adviser Representatives
Effective January 1, 2018, Oregon's securities regulation laws started imposing a mandatory reporting requirement in certain circumstances on "qualified individuals"—including investment adviser representatives—to protect "vulnerable persons" from…
4.7.2017
DOL Fiduciary Rule Delayed for 60 Days
Today, April 7, 2017, the Federal Register published the U.S. Department of Labor's (DOL) final rule extending the applicability date of the ERISA Fiduciary Rule from April 10, 2017 to June 9, 2017. A copy of the final rule is available here. Other…
3.17.2017
Temporary Guidance for Fiduciary Rule Compliance
On Friday, March 10, 2017, the Department of Labor (DOL) issued a field assistance bulletin (FAB) adopting a temporary enforcement policy regarding compliance with the ERISA Fiduciary Rule. The ERISA Fiduciary Rule is set to go in effect on April 10…
2.14.2017
Fiduciary Rule's Status Uncertain
On Friday, February 3, 2017, the President signed an executive order requiring the re-examination of the final Fiduciary Rule (81 Fed. Reg. 20946 (April 8, 2016)) set to go into effect on April 10, 2017. The Fiduciary Rule, which was the subject of…
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Publications & Presentations
"Compliance and Enforcement Update," Greater Portland Compliance Association, October 2020
"Managing Investment Adviser Compliance in the Global Pandemic," May 2020
Panelist, "A Pandemic Primer for Cannabis Businesses – Unique Challenges for a Unique Industry," April 2020
Podcast, "How to Transition Your Cannabis Business," Portland Business Journal, April 2020
"Tips on Looking for Funding for Your Cannabis Company," Portland Business Journal, April 2020
Panelist, "M&A in the Cannabis Industry," Oregon Cannabis Association, January 2020
"SEC Proposes Amendments to Advertising and Solicitor Rules," Tonkon Torp Legal Update, November 2019
"Fundraising and Investing 101," The Perlane, October 2019
"5 Ways to Gain High Ground While Selling a Cannabis Company," Portland Business Journal, September 2019
Panelist, "Thrive – A Seminar for Women Business Leaders," November 2018
"Compliance and Enforcement Update," Greater Portland Compliance Association, September 2018
Panelist, "Drug Money in the Age of Regulated Cannabis," RIMS, The Risk Management Society Western Regional Conference, September 2018
"Compliance and Enforcement Update," Greater Portland Compliance Association, October 2017
"Fund Strategies & Structures: Trends and Best Practices," Oregon Angel Fund, June 2017
"Department of Labor Fiduciary Rule Overview," Greater Portland Compliance Association, September 2016
"To Be or Not to Be an Equity Crowdfunding Portal?" March 2016
"Cyber Security," Greater Portland Compliance Association Q2 Educational Session, June 2015
"Data Breaches: Legal, Regulatory and Reputational Issues," Women's Networking Group, March 2015
"M&A Brokers and Avoiding Broker-Dealer Registration," October 2014
"SEC Guidance on Cybersecurity and Use of Social Media," Greater Portland Compliance Association, June 2014