Implications of Recent Developments in SEC Enforcement: A Six Month Review of Chairman Mary Jo White's Tenure

In the six months since Mary Jo White was sworn in as the Securities and Exchange Commission's 31st Chairman, the SEC has announced important new policies and initiatives as the agency has begun to utilize new enforcement authority under the Dodd-Frank Act and to redeploy resources. In recent weeks, White and Andrew Ceresney, Co-Director of the Division of Enforcement, have made important public announcements regarding enforcement priorities. Taken together, these policies, initiatives, and announcements signal a shift toward more aggressive enforcement. This advisory discusses these developments.