Covington Taps Humenik for Commodities Practice

WASHINGTON, DC, May 8, 2013 —  Covington & Burling is pleased to announce that Stephen M. Humenik will join the firm’s commodities practice.

Mr. Humenik, former general counsel and chief regulatory officer at Eris Exchange, LLC, comes to the firm’s Washington office as of counsel. He will advise clients on transactional, regulatory and policy matters affecting the futures, derivatives and commodities markets, including the registration and compliance obligations of the Dodd-Frank Act. Mr. Humenik’s practice will also focus on advising clients in enforcement actions before the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

“We are delighted to welcome Steve to Covington,” said Bruce Bennett and David Martin, co-chairs of the firm’s securities and capital markets practice. “Steve’s extensive experience at the CFTC and in the futures industry will add to our financial regulatory and capital markets capacity and be a strong asset for our clients  as they navigate a post Dodd Frank Act world.”

In addition to his position at Eris Exchange, Mr. Humenik worked at the CFTC as special counsel and policy advisory to Commissioner Scott D. O’Malia. He also served as senior trial attorney for the agency’s Division of Enforcement, where he investigated and litigated fraud and market manipulation cases, specifically those involving energy and financial derivatives.

“I’m very excited to join Covington and look forward to working with the array of experienced lawyers as we assist clients on the regulatory evolution that is underway,” Mr. Humenik said.

Mr. Humenik received his bachelor’s degree from Pennsylvania State University and his law degree from Catholic University of America’s Columbus School of Law.

Covington & Burling LLP, an international law firm, provides corporate, litigation, and regulatory expertise to enable clients to achieve their goals.  Founded in 1919, the firm has more than 800 lawyers and offices in Beijing, Brussels, London, New York, San Diego, San Francisco, Seoul, Shanghai, Silicon Valley, and Washington, DC.