Allen & Overy today announces the opening of a new office in Washington, D.C., with the addition of three new partners to bolster its leading U.S. Regulatory practice, in order to help clients meet the challenges of a radically altered regulatory landscape in the U.S.
The firm plans to steadily grow the office in strategic areas, with a particular focus on regulatory, securities enforcement, banking, commodities and derivatives, project finance, FCPA, international arbitration, antitrust and intellectual property. The three new partners, Barbara Stettner, Chris Salter and Charles Borden, were previously with O’Melveny & Myers LLP in Washington, D.C. It is expected that several lawyers from Allen & Overy’s 175-lawyer New York office will relocate to augment the Washington, D.C. office in addition to David Slade, who will be the managing partner of the new office.
David Morley, Allen & Overy’s senior partner, said, “Opening an office in Washington, D.C. represents a strategic imperative of the firm and demonstrates our continued commitment to expand our presence in the U.S. As the hub of U.S. government, Washington, D.C. is an incredibly important location for us and we are delighted to have found such a high-quality group of partners to open the office.”
Kevin O’Shea, U.S. managing partner, comments, “We are excited that Barbara, Chris and Charles are joining the firm. Opening an office in Washington, D.C. and continuing to bolster our strong regulatory practice and our expanding global regulatory network, particularly in the broker-dealer, securities and pay-to-play areas, secures two pressing strategic priorities for our U.S. practice, our global network and our clients. Having a Washington, D.C. presence also provides us with access to a deep and talented pool of attorneys in the D.C. area as we look to continue to grow our U.S. practice. In the post-Dodd-Frank environment, providing senior-level regulatory advice to our clients is increasingly crucial. The regulatory playing field for both U.S. and international financial institutions has been radically and permanently altered, resulting in new challenges to these entities. Barbara, Chris and Charles provide further support to address the needs of our clients.”
Barbara Stettner has extensive experience representing and advising broker-dealers, banks, investment banks, investment advisers, and other U.S. and foreign financial institutions on domestic and cross-border regulatory and compliance obligations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, the Bank Secrecy Act and federal and state pay-to-play and placement agent regulations. She previously worked at the SEC in the Division of Trading and Markets and in the Office of International Affairs. She received her LL.M from the London School of Economics and Political Science in 1995, her J.D. from Pepperdine University in 1994, her M.B.A from Pepperdine University in 1993 and her B.A. from the University of California in 1989. She is admitted to the Bars of Washington, D.C. and the State of California. Barbara was ranked in Band 1 by Chambers USA in 2010 and 2011.
Chris Salter also has extensive experience advising financial institution clients, and specifically broker-dealers, investment advisers, private equity funds, and hedge funds on compliance with the federal securities laws and regulations including the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and on compliance with the rules of the self-regulatory organizations (SROs), including the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). He previously worked at the SEC. He received his J.D. in 1995 from George Mason University School of Law and his B.A., cum laude, in 1989 from James Madison University. He is also a CPA. He is admitted to the Bars of Washington, D.C. and the State of Virginia.
Charles Borden focuses on matters involving the intersection of law and public policy and has extensive experience representing and advising financial institution clients, including broker-dealers, investment advisers, private equity funds and real estate investment firms, on compliance with federal, state and local political law regulations, including the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB) Rule G-37 and the SEC pay-to-play rule for investment advisers; state and local pay-to-play law; and federal, state and local law regulating lobbying, campaign finance, gifts, entertainment and government ethics. He received his M.Sc. in Regulation, with distinction, in 2007 from the London School of Economics, where he was also the winner of the William Robson Prize for outstanding performance. He received his J.D., magna cum laude, from Harvard University in 2001, his M.Sc. in Scottish history from the University of Edinburgh in 1999, where he was a US/UK Fulbright Scholar, and his B.A., magna cum laude, in History and Political Science, from Yale University in 1997, where he was also Phi Beta Kappa. He is admitted to the Bars of Washington, D.C. and the State of New York, as well as the U.S. Courts of Appeal for the Fourth, Ninth and Eleventh Circuits.
