The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (Finra) announced today that it has selected J. Bradley Bennett, a partner at the law firm Baker Botts in Washington, DC, as its new head of Enforcement.
Bennett will start at FINRA on January 1 and takes over from James Shorris, who has been acting Chief of Enforcement since Susan Merrill departed the organization last March.
"Brad will bring extensive knowledge and experience in dealing with violations of securities rules to FINRA at this critical time," said Richard Ketchum, Chairman and CEO of FINRA. "It is imperative that FINRA aggressively deal with wrongdoing in the industry to help rebuild investor trust and confidence in the markets."
Bennett has been at Baker Botts since 2001, where he specializes in financial and securities law violations. Before joining Baker Botts, he was an attorney at Miller, Cassidy, Larocca & Lewin. He started his career at the Securities and Exchange Commission as a senior attorney in the Division of Enforcement. He is an adjunct professor of securities regulation at Catholic University's Columbus School of Law.
At FINRA, Bennett will be responsible for the management of approximately 300 enforcement staff in 17 offices across the United States and report to FINRA Vice Chairman Stephen Luparello.
"Brad will be a forceful advocate for investors, especially in dealing with those who would seek to violate the rules," Luparello said. "I have known Brad for many years and he stands out for his understanding of securities laws."