Experience

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  Ernst & Young

  • Global Head -- Litigation

    • May 2014 - Present

    Global head of litigation for EY, which operates in over 100 countries around the world with over 200,000 employees. Manage over 100 in-house litigators and regulatory lawyers around the globe. Deep experience handling and resolving high stakes regulatory matters with domestic and foreign securities regulators, including the SEC and PCAOB. Develop and manage diverse in-house and external teams (lawyers and non-lawyers) to handle high profile cross-border regulatory and civil litigation matters. Extensive experience in both common law and civil law jurisdictions and the complex challenges presented by these different legal regimes. Member of EY's global claims committee for its captive insurer, responsible for handling and reporting on all claims pending against EY member firms worldwide. Deep knowledge of insurance coverage issues, including the interplay of actuarial assumptions, deductibles, limits and claims-based policies. Leading innovator in alternative fee agreements, including success-fee arrangements.

  • Deputy General Counsel -- Americas Head of Litigation

    • Jun 2010 - May 2014

    Responsible for supervising and managing litigation and regulatory matters across the Americas, with particular focus on US regulatory (SEC, PCAOB, DOJ) and civil litigation matters. Member of senior leadership team with direct reporting line to the Americas General Counsel.

  • Associate General Counsel

    • May 1991 - May 2010

    Prior to appointment as head of litigation for Americas, served as partner in charge of EY's legal operations in the Western U.S. Supervised trial teams all the way through trial/arbitration in several high stakes matters ($100-$300 million exposure); over a two dozen matters tried within the last decade with complete defense verdicts in virtually all of these matters. Deep experience with regulatory and enforcement inquiries involving the SEC and PCAOB, including administrative trials of SEC matters. Developed EY's eDiscovery program, including development and supervision of EY's records retention policies. Leader of firm-wide risk management sessions focused on the changing legal and regulatory environment confronting the accounting profession and the clients we serve.

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  U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

  • United States
  • Financial Services
  • 700 & Above Employee

  • Legal Counsel to Commissioner Philip R. Lochner

    • Apr 1990 - Apr 1991

    Reviewed and analyzed variety of matters brought before the Commission for ratification by the four divisions within the SEC and served as liaison between the staff and Commissioner Lochner. Areas of concentration included SEC enforcement matters, the Investment Advisors Act, corporate governance, proxy battles, Section 16 reporting by corporate insiders.

  • Enforcement Division

    • Aug 1988 - Apr 1991

    Areas of concentration included financial fraud, penny stock fraud and insider trading cases.

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  Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP

  • Associate -- Litigation

    • 1985 - 1988
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  Eleventh Circuit, U.S. Court of Appeals

  • Atlanta, Georgia

  • Law Clerk

    • Aug 1984 - Aug 1985
    • Atlanta, Georgia

    Law clerk for Hon. Thomas A. Clark, U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit