December 12, 2017
Emily P. Gordy, who managed enforcement operations at the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority and served as chief regulatory counsel for the nation’s largest independent broker-dealer, has joined McGuireWoods’ commercial litigation practice as a partner in Washington, D.C.
Gordy counsels broker-dealer and investment adviser clients, drawing on her nearly three decades of experience in securities regulation. She joins a cross-practice team of former government insiders, senior in-house counsel and seasoned litigators assisting broker-dealers and investment advisers in regulatory compliance, investigations and litigation.
Gordy held senior executive roles during her 14-year career in FINRA’s enforcement and examination departments, where she led efforts to resolve investigations and disciplinary actions; managed a 75-member regional team that handled more than 700 disciplinary matters annually; and provided counsel on policy issues, including anti-money laundering, supervision, suitability and other sales practice issues. She also led the enforcement integration team responsible for consolidating the regulatory enforcement functions of the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD) and the New York Stock Exchange in 2007.
Gordy previously held management positions at NASD and served as deputy chief counsel in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Enforcement Division. She comes to McGuireWoods from LPL Financial, where she served as chief regulatory counsel and executive vice president since 2015. The National Law Journal selected her as a Regulatory & Compliance Trailblazer in 2015.
“Emily’s command of the regulatory requirements confronting broker-dealers and investment advisers, her firsthand knowledge of how regulators think, combined with her complete understanding of the pressures and needs of our clients make her a tremendous asset to our firm,” said Cheryl Haas, chair of McGuireWoods’ Complex Commercial Litigation Department.
“Emily brings an insider’s perspective on securities regulation and enforcement that adds enormous value for our clients,” added Todd Mullins, managing partner of the firm’s Washington office.
McGuireWoods has a deep bench of former regulators advising financial industry clients. Gordy’s arrival follows the additions earlier this year of New York partner Daniel A. Goldfried, a former SEC senior counsel; and partner Alexandra Villarreal O’Rourke, former senior counsel at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, who is based in Charlotte, North Carolina. New York partner Ghillaine Reid, a former SEC branch chief and co-head of McGuireWoods’ broker-dealer team, joined the firm in 2016.
“McGuireWoods has an elite team of former regulators and accomplished litigators guiding securities industry clients through complex and evolving regulatory issues,” Gordy said. “I am excited for the opportunity to collaborate with this outstanding team and put my experience to work for our clients.”