LAWYER PROFILE
Kathleen S. McArthur

Kathleen S. McArthur

USA 2026

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Ranked in 2 practice areas

About

Provided by Sullivan & Cromwell LLP

Practice Areas

Commodities, Futures & Derivatives

Criminal Defense & Investigations

Digital Assets

Financial Services Investigations & Litigation

Latin America

Litigation

Latin America Dispute Resolution

Securities & Commodities Investigations

Career

Kathleen S. McArthur is Co-Head of the Firm’s Securities & Commodities Investigations Practice as well as its Commodities, Futures and Derivatives Practice. She has advised some of the world’s biggest companies on major matters involving complex financial products and physical commodities, including enforcement inquiries, internal investigations and commercial litigation and arbitration.

Katy’s clients include a broad array of global financial institutions, investment managers, proprietary trading firms, and derivatives end users. Her keen understanding of trading and markets enables her to advocate effectively for clients facing even the most complex allegations of fraud or market manipulation, and she regularly advises clients in connection with enforcement inquiries by the CFTC, SEC, FERC and DOJ, as well as other federal and state regulatory agencies and self-regulatory organizations.

Ms. McArthur also represents clients in litigation, including defending litigated enforcement matters as well as private litigation involving securities class actions, private actions alleging violations of the Commodity Exchange Act or antitrust law, shareholder derivative litigation and other commercial disputes relating to alleged product defects, consumer and accounting fraud, and breaches of contracts.

A native speaker of Spanish and also fluent in Portuguese, Katy frequently advises companies throughout Latin America in connection with litigation and arbitration matters, as well as investigations and enforcement matters involving U.S. law, including matters involving allegations of fraud, market manipulation, bribery and corruption, accounting irregularities, and anti-competitive conduct, among other areas. She has extensive experience advising companies in the U.S. and abroad regarding U.S. enforcement authorities’ expectations for corporate compliance programs.

She has been recognized by leading publications, including Chambers USA and The Best Lawyers in America. She has also been recognized as a “Rising Star” by New York Super Lawyers, Who’s Who Legal: Investigations and by The Legal 500 United States, and is a Fellow of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity. She also was a member of the Sullivan & Cromwell team that was awarded The Legal Aid Society’s 2018 Pro Bono Publico Award.

Professional Memberships

American Bar Association

New York City Bar Association

Personal

University of Texas, BBA (2002); Harvard Law School, JD (2007)

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Chambers Guide to the USA

Derivatives: Enforcement - USA - Nationwide

Band 1
Band 1

Individual Editorial
Kathleen McArthur's regulatory, enforcement and investigations expertise make her well placed to handle cases involving market manipulation.

Derivatives - USA - Nationwide

Band 3
Band 3

Individual Editorial
Kathleen McArthur's regulatory, enforcement and investigations expertise make her well placed to handle cases involving market manipulation.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Kathleen is fantastic, she has deep industry knowledge, is always available and is both practical and knowledgeable on what needs to happen. Her work product is always exceptional.

    Derivatives: EnforcementChambers Guide to the USA

Ranked Individuals at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP (144)

California

California: Los Angeles & Surrounds

California: San Francisco, Silicon Valley & Surrou

District of Columbia

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