Biography
Matt Kitzi's public service experience, highlighted by his seven-year tenure as Missouri Commissioner of Securities, gives him the ability to offer practical, insightful counsel to clients ranging from the largest financial services firms to emerging investment managers and new startup companies. Former co-leader of the firm’s Securities Regulation and Litigation practice area, he is a trusted adviser to his clients in the areas of securities regulation, raising capital, business planning strategies, financial services and government affairs. Matt has served as managing attorney of the firm's Jefferson City office since 2019.
Broker-Dealer and Investment Adviser Regulation, Compliance and Enforcement
Matt’s practice covers a broad spectrum of issues in the securities arena, including securing effective resolutions in sensitive and complex state, federal and SRO enforcement investigations and actions. He has extensive experience managing regulatory investigations and in seeking regulatory resolutions, and regularly assists clients with day-to-day compliance matters in the highly regulated broker-dealer and investment adviser industry. Matt also advises clients on registration matters including obtaining securities licenses, registration waivers and special conditions.
Corporate Finance and Investment Funds
Matt transfers his experience as securities commissioner in approving billions of dollars in securities offers to counseling clients on registration and exemption options for small businesses, new debt and equity issues, and additional-round offerings. He assists businesses regarding disclosure requirements in connection with private securities offerings and securing registration or exemptions for the same.
Matt also counsels clients on strategies and structures for private and special funds and advisers to funds, having represented investors in private equity and venture capital funds, as well as the funds themselves and their management teams.
Emerging and Growing Companies
Matt is active in the Missouri entrepreneurial and emerging companies community, working closely with founders of startup and growing companies. He assists new startups with technology innovations or in new and emerging industries to establish ownership structures and raise capital through angel investors and venture capital and private equity firms. Matt also counsels institutional investors, accelerator programs, family offices, strategic investors and others who invest in startup companies. Additionally, he guides both new companies and established businesses on officer and director guidance, corporate governance, and mergers and acquisitions.
Education
- University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law (J.D., with distinction, 2000)
- University of Missouri-Kansas City Law Review, Literary Editor (1999-2000)
- Northwest Missouri State University (B.S., cum laude, 1997)
- International Business
Admissions
Professional Activities
- Arch Grants Competition Committee
- The Missouri Bar – Technology and Computer Law Committee (Vice Chair, 2014-2019; Chair, 2020)
- North American Securities Administrators Association Board of Directors (NASAA) (2012)
- NASAA National Task Force on Auction Rate Securities Investigations (Chair, 2008-2012)
Charitable and Civic Involvement
- CrossFit Level 1 (CF-L1), CrossFit Level 2 (CF-L2) and CrossFit Kids Trainer-Coach
- Upward Sports Columbia Volunteer
- Missouri State High School Athletics Association Certified Football Coach
Accolades
- The Best Lawyers in America®, Securities Regulation (2024-present)
- Missouri Lawyers Weekly Power List, White-Collar Defense (2020-2022)
- Missouri Lawyers Weekly Top Legal Innovations Award (ATGS Compliance Solutions) (2018)
- Columbia Business Times 20 Under 40 Award (2014)
- Missouri Lawyers Weekly “Up & Coming” Lawyers Award (2013)
- NASAA Outstanding Service Award (2013)
- NASAA Outstanding Team Service Award, National Investigation Task Force (2012)
- Adjunct Professor, Washington University School of Law in St. Louis (2011-2014)
- NASAA Enforcement Award (2011)
- NASAA Outstanding Team Service Award, Dodd-Frank Studies Working Group (2011)
Background
Matt was a corporate attorney with the firm for four years when he left to join the administration of Secretary of State Robin Carnahan as the director of corporations in early 2005. In December 2005, he was appointed by Secretary Carnahan as commissioner of securities — the country’s youngest state securities commissioner at the time.
As commissioner, Matt directed the Missouri Securities Division and its regulation and licensure of Missouri’s 134,000-member broker-dealer and investment adviser industry. He issued 350 administrative orders and led investor protection efforts resulting in more than $2.3 billion in restitution for aggrieved investors.
He led the division during the 2007-2009 world financial crisis. During that time, Matt restructured the division’s compliance and audit program and overhauled its investor education efforts through innovative programming that reached millions of investors.
At the national level, Matt assumed leadership positions by chairing the following: National Auction Rate Securities Investigations Task Force for the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA); NASAA's Dodd-Frank Studies Working Group; and NASAA's Enforcement Section. He also served on NASAA's Board of Directors.