Department profile
A&O Shearman

Financial Services Regulation: Broker Dealer (Compliance & Enforcement)

USA Guide 2026 : USA - Nationwide


A&O Shearman

Rankings

About

Provided by A&O Shearman

Our financial services regulatory practice

  • A "Global-U.S." financial services practice. Allen & Overy's inherent strength is our ability to advise on cross-border matters. Our FSR practice is based in New York and Washington, D.C. and is supported by U.S.-qualified lawyers in Europe and Asia. FSR issues across the world’s principal financial markets. This allows us to offer a distinctive international U.S. regulatory practice that is unmatched by our competitors.

  • Full service offering. Our FSR team offers advice on a broad range of regulatory topics including: general banking compliance; broker dealer regulation; investment adviser regulation; investment company/fund regulation and 1940 Act status issues; securities regulation; banking enforcement and investigations; M&A; and on the intersection of political law and financial regulatory issues, many of which are at the heart of the financial markets, including at various levels of Dodd-Frank reform. 
  • Access to and experience with regulators. Our attorneys are involved in almost every regulatory initiative and debate concerning regulatory change, globally. In the U.S., our team has deeply entrenched relationships and first-hand experience dealing with U.S. regulatory agencies.

  • The global perspective. One of the key ways in which we differentiate from other U.S. regulatory practices is our ability to bring a global perspective to issues through the strength of our global regulatory network.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Financial Services Regulation: Broker Dealer (Compliance & Enforcement) - USA - Nationwide

Band 3

Band 3


What the Team is Known For
A&O Shearman is noted for its talented group in the broker-dealer space, with a respected practice weighted toward the provision of compliance advice. It combines broker-dealer expertise with specialist knowledge of the banking and asset management spaces to provide clients with a holistic advisory service. Advises on all aspects of US broker-dealer regulation, and noted for its work on cross-border transactional matters. The team is also experienced in handling the full range of Dodd-Frank and Volcker Rule matters in the banking space, as well as anti-money laundering rules and sanctions law. It has a strong international presence ensures that the team is also able to advise on EU, UK and other regulatory systems. It has further experience in advising financial institutions on cryptocurrency regulatory issues.

Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • A&O Shearman represented Danske Bank in investigations by DOJ, the SEC, Danish and French criminal authorities, arising from its former Estonian branch, resulting in a $2 billion global settlement.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • A&O is a great firm to use for bank regulatory questions, especially those with an international component.

    Financial Services Regulation: Broker Dealer (Compliance & Enforcement) respondentUSA
  • The team provide clear, practical advice and they get us results.

    Financial Services Regulation: Broker Dealer (Compliance & Enforcement) respondentUSA
  • A&O has great technical knowledge that is balanced with good commercial sense.

    Financial Services Regulation: Broker Dealer (Compliance & Enforcement) respondentUSA

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Band 3Hilary Sunghee Seo
    Band 3Hilary Sunghee Seo

    Hilary Sunghee Seo

    Hilary Sunghee Seo is noted for her regulatory advisory work on M&A transactions for clients in the asset management and private wealth space.

    • We are thankful to have such a valuable resource in Hilary.

      Financial Services Regulation: Broker Dealer (Compliance & Enforcement) respondentUSA
    • Hilary excels at both providing legal advice and client service.

      Financial Services Regulation: Broker Dealer (Compliance & Enforcement) respondentUSA
    • She is consistently delivering reliable and actionable advice.

      Financial Services Regulation: Broker Dealer (Compliance & Enforcement) respondentUSA
  • Band 4Adam S Hakki
    Band 4Adam S Hakki

    Adam S Hakki

    Adam Hakki is the US chair and co-chair of the global A&O Shearman board and executive committee. He has impressive experience of handling contentious matters including antitrust class actions. He is regularly involved in advising on investigations by the DOJ, SEC, CFTC and FINRA.

    • He has an encyclopedic knowledge of the current state of the law across all legal services.

      Financial Services Regulation: Broker Dealer (Compliance & Enforcement) respondentUSA
    • Adam is an extremely thoughtful and strategic legal adviser with deep experience and excellent judgment.

      Financial Services Regulation: Broker Dealer (Compliance & Enforcement) respondentUSA
    • Adam is exceptional. He is a great strategist and always provides excellent outcomes.

      Financial Services Regulation: Broker Dealer (Compliance & Enforcement) respondentUSA
  • Band 4Katherine Stoller
    Band 4Katherine Stoller

    Katherine Stoller

    Katherine Stoller is the US head of investigations and white‑collar at the firm. She leads cross‑border litigation, enforcement matters and conducts internal investigations into breaches of economic sanctions, money laundering, AML/BSA violations and financial fraud.

    • She is the right mix of knowing the facts but being able to keep a big-picture strategy.

      Financial Services Regulation: Broker Dealer (Compliance & Enforcement) respondentUSA
    • Katherine has a good view of everything and provides pragmatic advice.

      Financial Services Regulation: Broker Dealer (Compliance & Enforcement) respondentUSA
  • Band 4Lena Kiely
    Band 4Lena Kiely

    Lena Kiely

    Lena Kiely is noted for her expertise advising clients on a variety of banking compliance and regulatory matters, with proven experience on cross-border matters.

    • Lena is judicious and practical.

      Financial Services Regulation: Broker Dealer (Compliance & Enforcement) respondentUSA
    • Lena is a trusted adviser.

      Financial Services Regulation: Broker Dealer (Compliance & Enforcement) respondentUSA
    • She draws on her in‑house experience to blend technical advice with practical implementation.

      Financial Services Regulation: Broker Dealer (Compliance & Enforcement) respondentUSA

Ranked Individuals at A&O Shearman (4)

USA - Nationwide

  • Profile image of Lena Kiely

    Lena Kiely

    Financial Services Regulation: Banking (Compliance)

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  • Profile image of Adam S Hakki

    Adam S Hakki

    Financial Services Regulation: Banking (Enforcement & Investigations)

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  • Profile image of Katherine Stoller

    Katherine Stoller

    Financial Services Regulation: Banking (Enforcement & Investigations)

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  • Profile image of Hilary Sunghee Seo

    Hilary Sunghee Seo

    Financial Services Regulation: Broker Dealer (Compliance)

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Members

Provided by A&O Shearman

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