WASHINGTON, DC, October 7, 2024: Morgan Lewis continues to build its deep bench of former government officials by welcoming Carolyn Welshhans, a 17-year veteran of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) who most recently served as associate director of the Division of Enforcement. Carolyn joins the firm as a partner, resident in Washington, DC, and will focus on SEC enforcement, investigations, and litigation.
“Carolyn is a fantastic addition to our dynamic securities enforcement and litigation team, particularly as the SEC heightens its regulatory and enforcement attention on broker-dealers, investment advisers, public companies, and fintech companies,” said Firm Chair Jami McKeon. “Having overseen a variety of SEC enforcement matters, Carolyn brings timely and in-demand insight that will be of tremendous value to our clients.”
Carolyn held numerous leadership roles within the Enforcement Division, including as the acting chief of its Crypto Assets and Cyber Unit. She also served as an assistant director in the division’s Cyber and Market Abuse units. Carolyn supervised numerous significant enforcement actions involving insider trading, market structure, cybersecurity, unregistered offerings, investment advisers, broker-dealers, and public company accounting and financial disclosure violations.
“Carolyn’s deep familiarity with the SEC and its enforcement priorities combined with her work on high-profile matters will greatly enhance our SEC enforcement capabilities,” said Troy S. Brown, leader of the firm’s global litigation practice. “Carolyn earned a distinguished reputation during her time at the SEC and is well known and highly regarded by our team, bringing a strong level of comprehension to complex securities enforcement and litigation issues facing our clients.”
Carolyn’s arrival at Morgan Lewis reunites her with other SEC alums who joined the firm in recent years, including Kelly L. Gibson, former acting deputy director of the Enforcement Division and leader of its Climate and ESG Task Force; Frederick L. Block, former supervisory trial counsel in the Enforcement Division; Christine Ayako Schleppegrell, former branch chief at the Division of Investment Management; and Erin E. Martin, former legal branch chief in the Division of Corporation Finance.