Navigating the Legal Framework

Bruce Ashton is the General Counsel of Alta Trust and one of the nation’s foremost experts in ERISA law. With more than 35 years of experience advising financial institutions, plan sponsors, and fiduciaries, Bruce has helped shape the way retirement plans and investment products are designed, governed, and brought to market.

Before joining Alta Trust, Bruce was a senior partner at Faegre Drinker, where he counseled clients on ERISA compliance, fiduciary responsibility, and the structuring of investment vehicles including Collective Investment Trusts. He is a past president of the American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries (ASPPA), a frequent national speaker, and has been recognized in Best Lawyers in America and Super Lawyers for his work in employee benefits law.

At Alta Trust, Bruce applies his deep legal and regulatory expertise to guide the launch of innovative retirement solutions that integrate public and private market strategies.

Fred Reish is an attorney whose practice focuses on fiduciary and best interest standards of care, prohibited transactions, conflicts of interest, and retirement plan issues. He has been recognized as one of the “Legends” of the retirement industry by both PLANADVISER magazine and Plansponsor magazine. Fred has received recognition awards for: AV Preeminent Rating® by Martindale Hubbell; the 401(k) Industry’s Most Influential Person by 401kWire; the Institutional Investor and PLANSPONSOR magazine Lifetime Achievement Awards; one of RIABiz’s 10 most influential individuals in the 401(k) industry affecting RIAs; Investment Advisor’s 25 Most Influential People by ThinkAdvisor; and the ASPPA/Morningstar 401(k) Leadership Award.

Fred currently serves on the CFP Board’s Public Policy Council and is a member of the CFP Board’s Standards Resource Commission. He has written more than 350 articles and four books about retirement plans.

Vadim Avdeychik is a partner based in the New York office and a member of the firm’s Investment Management Group. His practice focuses on advising on the structuring, launch and management of registered fund products and other products designed for high net worth and retail investors.
Mr. Avdeychik advises business development companies (BDCs), interval funds, mutual funds, closed-end funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and their investment advisers on the full range of investment management matters. His experience spans the formation and operation of registered investment companies, alternative fund structures, fund governance, regulatory issues involving public and private funds, ERISA and investment company status issues and exemptions.
Mr. Avdeychik is recommended by Chambers Global (2025) and Chambers USA (2025), where clients note that he is “incredibly knowledgeable, approachable and an expert on non-traditional strategies” and “exactly what you are hoping for when you need to call on a partner at a law firm.” He is also a recipient of the Policy Leadership Award from the Institute for Portfolio Alternatives, which recognizes individuals who demonstrate leadership in shaping policy, regulation, and legislation that support the alternative investments industry.
He received his J.D. from Hofstra Law School in 2007 and his B.A. from St. John’s University in 2004 and holds an LL.M. in Securities and Financial Regulation from Georgetown University Law Center. Mr. Avdeychik is the current Chair of the New York City Bar Committee on Investment Management.