Robert W. Cook, former director of the division of trading and markets of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, will return to Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP as a partner. He will be based in the firm’s Washington office and will focus on securities, derivatives, and market regulation, the firm said.
Cook, 47, was the director of his division from January 2010 to January of this year, supervising 250 professionals. He was responsible for regulatory policy and oversight of securities exchanges and markets, broker-dealers, security-based swap dealers, clearing agencies, and credit rating agencies, the firm said.
Under his direction, the division reviewed and acted on over 2,000 rule filings and new product listings and implemented more than 30 major rulemakings and studies generated by the Dodd-Frank and JOBS Acts, the firm said. Cook also oversaw market structure initiatives, including the adoption of enhanced risk controls for traders with access to the securities markets, large trader registration and reporting rules, according to the firm.
“Market participants and intermediaries face a range of significant new and enhanced regulatory mandates,” Cook said in a statement. “With its deep financial regulatory expertise and international perspective, Cleary Gottlieb provides an excellent platform for helping clients understand and comply with this complex regulatory environment.”
