Debevoise & Plimpton LLP announced today that Charu Chandrasekhar has joined the firm’s New York office as counsel in its White Collar & Regulatory Defense practice.

Ms. Chandrasekhar brings to the firm extensive experience in securities enforcement and government investigations, internal investigations and complex commercial litigation. She joins the firm after eight years at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), most recently serving as the Assistant Regional Director in the SEC’s Division of Enforcement and leader of the Division’s Retail Strategy Task Force.

“With even more aggressive regulatory and enforcement efforts that may well come in the next administration, the addition of Charu to our already deep bench of former SEC regulators furthers our ability to meet the needs of our clients,” said Andrew Ceresney, Co-Chair of the firm’s Litigation Department and past Director of Enforcement at the SEC . “Charu also brings a special focus on broker-dealers, market-structure issues and retail investors, complementing the team’s growing capabilities across the full range of securities enforcement matters,” added Ceresney.

Prior to joining the SEC, Ms. Chandrasekhar was counsel in the white collar group at another international law firm. She serves as a board member on the Harvard Law School’s Women Alliance. Ms. Chandrasekhar received her B.A. from Yale University in 1998 and her J.D. from Harvard Law School in 2004.

Debevoise’s award winning White Collar & Regulatory Defense Group excels in complex representations for clients facing corporate crises. The Group, which has been involved in some of the most significant investigations and resolutions over the past few years, has a depth of experience and global reach that allows for effective and strategic counsel with international and domestic clients, from defending against criminal prosecutions and civil enforcement actions, to conducting internal investigations, negotiating complex global settlements and facilitating cooperation with government regulators.

Ms. Chandrasekhar joins a number of seasoned former SEC lawyers in Debevoise’s White Collar practice, including partner and vice chair Mary Jo White, immediate past Chair of the SEC and former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York; partners Kara Brockmeyer, Robert Kaplan and Julie Riewe, who all held senior roles at the SEC’s Division of Enforcement, and Mr. Ceresney, as well as other attorneys such as partners Jonathan Tuttle and Arian June with extensive experience in SEC matters.

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP is a premier law firm with market-leading practices, a global perspective and strong New York roots. We deliver effective solutions to our clients’ most important legal challenges, applying clear commercial judgment and a distinctively collaborative approach.