Former SEC Enforcement Official Carolyn Welshhans Joins Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP as Partner in Washington, DC

On Monday, October 7, 2024, Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP announced the addition of Carolyn Welshhans, a former associate director at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), to its Washington, DC office. Welshhans, who has 17 years of experience at the SEC, will join the firm as a partner, focusing on SEC enforcement, investigations, and litigation.

Firm Chair Jami McKeon highlighted Welshhans’ extensive background, noting her significant experience in overseeing various SEC enforcement matters. Her expertise is expected to be particularly valuable as the SEC intensifies its regulatory scrutiny of broker-dealers, investment advisers, public companies, and fintech firms.

During her tenure at the SEC, Welshhans held several leadership positions within the Enforcement Division, including acting chief of its Crypto Assets and Cyber Unit. She also served as an assistant director in the Cyber and Market Abuse units, managing numerous high-profile enforcement actions related to insider trading, cybersecurity, market structure, and financial disclosure violations.

Troy S. Brown, leader of Morgan Lewis’s global litigation practice, emphasized that Welshhans’ deep understanding of SEC priorities and her experience with complex enforcement issues will significantly strengthen the firm’s capabilities in this area. He also noted her established reputation within the SEC community and her recognition among the firm’s team.

Welshhans’ arrival reunites her with several former SEC colleagues who have joined Morgan Lewis in recent years. These include Kelly L. Gibson, former acting deputy director of the Enforcement Division; Frederick L. Block, former supervisory trial counsel; 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.

This strategic hiring reflects Morgan Lewis’s commitment to enhancing its services in securities enforcement and litigation, particularly in a regulatory landscape that is becoming increasingly complex.