NEW YORK & WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sidley Austin LLP is pleased to announce that James A. Brigagliano is joining the firm as a partner in the securities and futures regulatory practice. Mr. Brigagliano comes to Sidley after serving as the Deputy Director of the Division of Trading and Markets at the Securities and Exchange Commission, where he held a series of senior policymaking and management positions.
During his tenure at the SEC, Mr. Brigagliano played a key part in many significant SEC rulemaking initiatives, including those implementing the Dodd-Frank Act. Mr. Brigagliano also participated in developing the SEC’s responses to the 2008 financial crisis to minimize adverse consequences to the U.S. markets, working with the Treasury Department, the Federal Reserve and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Mr. Brigagliano has worked closely with FINRA and the securities exchanges on many key regulatory initiatives, and he has frequently provided input to Congressional staffs concerning certain regulatory developments.
“Jamie Brigagliano is one of the country’s most respected securities lawyers,” said Thomas A. Cole, Chair of the firm’s Executive Committee. “Jamie understands the complex structure of global markets and the exchanges and he will add tremendous value to representing our clients in securities regulatory and enforcement matters, be they broker-dealers, hedge funds, mutual funds, investment banks or public companies.”
Mr. Brigagliano has more than two decades of experience at the SEC where he held supervisory and policymaking positions of increasing responsibility. He joined the SEC’s Office of the General Counsel in 1986, where he briefed and argued cases in federal district and appellate courts, and supervised a team of litigators from 1991 to 1998. Mr. Brigagliano then moved to what is now the Division of Trading and Markets where he was promoted to Associate Director in 2006, overseeing a number of regulatory programs and enforcement liaison functions. He was named Deputy Director in 2009; in that position he supervised the regulation of broker-dealers, securities markets and trading practices; he advised on enforcement matters and testified before Congress. Mr. Brigagliano also served as Co-Acting Director of the Division during 2009.
“Jamie has demonstrated sound judgment, a strategic perspective and exceptional analytical skills throughout his notable career,” said Dennis C. Hensley, global coordinator of Sidley’s securities and futures regulatory practice. “His insight and experience in a wide range of regulatory areas will enable him to provide clients with valuable strategic advice as they adjust their businesses and control systems to meet the changing regulatory environment. Jamie will bring even greater value to the deep and broad securities regulatory experience that already exists at Sidley.”
“It is an honor to be joining a global law firm known for the integrity and excellence of its lawyers,” said Mr. Brigagliano. “I look forward to assisting clients in navigating the ever-changing regulatory landscape and joining former colleagues from the SEC.”
Mr. Brigagliano was honored with many awards during his tenure at the SEC: the Chairman’s Award for Excellence and the Law and Policy Award in 2011, given to the Dodd-Frank Implementation Team; the Jay Manning Award in 2004; the Supervisory Excellence Award in 2002; and the Capital Markets Award in 2001 and 2005. He earned his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center and graduated from Amherst College, cum laude, with a B.A. degree. Mr. Brigagliano has been a frequent speaker at seminars and conferences attended by thousands of in-house lawyers and business people each year. Currently, Mr. Brigagliano is a member of the New York Bar, but not the District of Columbia Bar. Until he is admitted to the DC Bar, his practice in DC will be limited to practice before federal agencies and tribunals, subject to applicable Ethics in Government Act requirements.
Sidley Austin LLP is one of the world’s premier full-service law firms, with more than 1600 lawyers practicing in 17 U.S. and international cities, including Beijing, Brussels, Frankfurt, Geneva, Hong Kong, London, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney and Tokyo. Sidley’s Securities and Futures Regulatory Practice includes over 50 lawyers located in New York, Washington, Chicago, London and Hong Kong. Sidley is recognized for service and responsiveness. Sidley received the most first-tier national rankings of any U.S. law firm in the inaugural U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” rankings for 2010. BTI, a Boston-based research and consulting firm, has named Sidley as one of only three firms to have been in the top ten of the BTI Client Service rankings every year since the inception of those rankings in 2001, and as number one in three of those years.
For purposes of the New York State Bar rules, this press release may be considered Attorney Advertising and the headquarters of the firm are Sidley Austin LLP 787 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10019, 212.839.5300 and Sidley Austin LLP One South Dearborn, Chicago, IL 60603, 312.853.7000. Prior results described herein do not guarantee a similar outcome.