Stephen Cohen, former Associate Director in the Securities and Exchange Commission Division of Enforcement, has joined law firm Sidley Austin. He will be a member of Sidley’s securities and derivatives enforcement and regulatory practice.

Cohen will add immediate value to Sidley’s efforts to help clients with government and internal investigations, enforcement-related litigation, whistleblower complaints, congressional issues, and those seeking to establish or strengthen compliance programs.

Cohen has an illustrious track record of leading complex and high-profile cases involving market participants and public companies across a broad spectrum of industries. During his tenure with the SEC, Cohen oversaw domestic and international enforcement activities involving accounting and disclosure fraud, auditor misconduct, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, insider trading, registered and unregistered securities offerings, market abuses, broker-dealers, investment advisers and other regulated entities. In various different contexts, he worked closely with individuals in many federal regulatory and law enforcement agencies, including providing advice and training on enforcement and investigations issues to regulators around the world.

Throughout Cohen’s distinguished tenure with the SEC, he held numerous high-level positions and roles. While in the SEC’s Enforcement Division, he chaired a nationwide enforcement advisory committee made up of senior SEC officers who met regularly to help the Enforcement Director develop policies and improve the division. Additionally, he served on an inter-agency task force on cyber-security issues.

Prior to serving as Associate Director in the SEC’s Enforcement Division, he served as senior adviser to SEC Chairman Mary Schapiro, advising on policy and administrative matters focused mostly on enforcement and compliance issues, legislative matters and congressional hearings. In addition, Cohen was responsible for overseeing the establishment of the SEC’s Whistleblower program and other initiatives such as rulemakings. Previously, he served in the division’s Trial Unit as Assistant Chief Litigation Counsel.

Cohen started his career as a federal district court law clerk before joining the Department of Justice as a trial attorney in the Attorney General’s Honors Program. He also handled litigation matters and government investigations at a national law firm.

 

 

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