Former SEC Associate Regional Director to Join WilmerHale

October 11, 2016, LOS ANGELES – Lorraine Echavarria, the former head of enforcement in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) Los Angeles office, has joined WilmerHale’s Securities Litigation and Enforcement Practice.

Ms. Echavarria started today as a partner based in WilmerHale’s Los Angeles office. She spent 15 years at the SEC, ultimately serving as Associate Regional Director.

“We’re delighted that Lori is joining us. She is an excellent lawyer and her experience and knowledge of SEC enforcement policy and practice will be of great value to our clients. She further enhances our market-leading securities enforcement practice,” said Bill McLucas, chair of WilmerHale’s Securities Department.

During her time with the SEC, Ms. Echavarria had responsibility for a broad range of investigations involving every major subject area of the SEC’s enforcement program, including financial reporting and disclosure, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), insider trading, the regulation of hedge funds, investment advisers and broker-dealers, and matters arising from all of the SEC’s Specialized Units (FCPA, Market Abuse, Municipal Securities, Asset Management, Structured and New Products).

As Associate Regional Director, Ms. Echavarria oversaw over 60 attorneys and accountants conducting investigations and litigating enforcement actions for the SEC’s Los Angeles office.

Ms. Echavarria’s practice at WilmerHale will focus on representing public companies, corporate officers, financial institutions, hedge funds and other financial market participants facing government investigations and enforcement actions. She will also conduct internal investigations for boards and audit committees, as well as provide advice and guidance to businesses on corporate governance and compliance issues.

In joining WilmerHale, Ms. Echavarria again will work alongside Randall Lee, partner-in-charge of the firm’s Los Angeles office. Ms. Echavarria served with Mr. Lee at the SEC when he was the Regional Director for the Pacific Region, from 2001 to 2007, overseeing the federal agency’s Los Angeles and San Francisco offices.

“Lori has an outstanding record of leadership at the SEC,” Mr. Lee said. “She’s a dynamic and talented lawyer whom I have admired for many years, and she will be a major asset to WilmerHale’s national practice.”

Mr. Lee is one of several WilmerHale Securities Litigation and Enforcement partners who served at the SEC. Others include McLucas, former Director of the Division of Enforcement; Harry Weiss, former Associate Director of the Division of Enforcement; Matthew Martens, former Chief Litigation Counsel for the Division of Enforcement; and Mark Cahn, former General Counsel.

“It’s an honor to join a firm whose elite SEC enforcement practice I have long respected. I look forward to working with such a distinguished group of colleagues and to helping to continue the firm’s growth in California,” Ms. Echavarria said.

Ms. Echavarria received her law degree from New York University in 1997 and her undergraduate degree in law and society from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1994.