Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP announced today that Peter H. Bresnan, Deputy Director of the SEC’s Division of Enforcement, is joining the Firm. Mr. Bresnan will be a partner in the Firm’s Washington, D.C. office and a member of the Firm’s Government and Internal Investigations practice. During his 12-year tenure at the SEC, Mr. Bresnan led a number of major enforcement actions, including as the SEC’s lead trial counsel in the WorldCom case. Recently, he was responsible for the Commission’s actions against Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. As the interim head of the SEC's Boston office, Mr. Bresnan ran the SEC’s market timing and late trading cases. He has also led significant Foreign Corrupt Practices Act matters.
“We’re delighted to welcome Peter to the Firm,” said Pete Ruegger, Chairman of Simpson Thacher’s Executive Committee. “With his extensive experience in high-profile SEC investigations and enforcement actions, Peter enhances our talented Government and Internal Investigations practice group, adding to our ability to assist clients with the range of challenges that can confront them in the regulatory and enforcement arenas. Peter’s expertise also complements our premier private securities litigation practice and, importantly, augments our Washington, D.C. practice to better serve our clients, both in the United States and abroad.”
In its own press release issued today, the SEC stated, “"Since joining Commission staff, Mr. Bresnan has led some of the most challenging and significant investigations and enforcement actions in Commission history, including landmark settlements with WorldCom and several mutual fund market timers.
"Peter has been an eloquent and passionate advocate for investors' interests,'" said SEC Chairman Christopher Cox. "His strong leadership of our national enforcement program has upheld the SEC's preeminence as the gold standard of securities law enforcement. Investors large and small, America's capital markets, and the entire nation have had a courageous champion in Peter Bresnan. His many years of outstanding public service place all of us deeply in his debt.'"
"Linda Chatman Thomsen, the Director of the Division of Enforcement, said, 'Peter has had a remarkable and varied career at the SEC and he has excelled at every stage along the way. Time and again, when faced with a difficult challenge, we turned to Peter. And time and again, he met the challenge with characteristic excellent judgment, hard work, great skills and quiet good humor. Investors are better off because Peter was here. And all of us who have had the privilege of working with him are better off too.'"
Mr. Bresnan first joined the Commission’s Staff in April 1995 as Assistant Chief Litigation Counsel. In November 2001, he became the Deputy Chief Litigation Counsel, sharing responsibility for managing the Commission's nationwide litigation program. Mr. Bresnan served as the Acting District Administrator of the Boston District Office from November 2003 to April 2004, and as an Associate Director in the SEC’s Washington office from April 2004 to November 2005. Mr. Bresnan received the SEC’s Stanley Sporkin Award in 2004, which recognizes those who have made “exceptionally tenacious and insightful contributions” to the enforcement of the federal securities laws. He earned his undergraduate degree from Kenyon College and his law degree from Fordham University.