The SEC announced that Bridget Fitzpatrick will lead its trial unit, while David Gottesman will continue to serve as the agency’s Deputy Chief Litigation Counsel.

Since December 2016, Ms. Fitzpatrick and Mr. Gottesman have served as Co-Acting Chief Litigation Counsel. In that role, they were jointly responsible for supervising the trial unit at the agency’s Washington, D.C. headquarters as well as coordinating with litigators in the SEC’s 11 regional offices around the country.  

BRIDGET FITZPATRICK.    In her new role, Ms. Fitzpatrick will oversee the sec'S national litigation program. She previously served as a supervisor and a trial lawyer in the SEC’s Enforcement Division, where she supervised the litigation of several successful cases and tried highly complex matters. In recognition of her contributions to the SEC’s litigation program, she has twice received the Chairman’s Award for Excellence, and also received the Arthur F. Flemming Award for excellence in public service. Before joining the SEC, Ms. Fitzpatrick served as a federal prosecutor for more than 5 years and, prior to that, was an attorney for 7 years with DLA Piper. She received her bachelor’s degree from Cornell and her law degree from Georgetown.

DAVID GOTTESMAN.    As Deputy, Mr. Gottesman’s responsibilities will include oversight of all trial lawyers in the SEC’s Washington, D.C., headquarters. He also has managed and advised the agency’s nationwide trial unit on litigation strategies and trial preparation. Mr. Gottesman previously served as a supervisor and a trial lawyer in the SEC’s Enforcement Division. Before joining the SEC, Mr. Gottesman was a trial attorney in the Commercial Litigation Branch of the Civil Division of the U.S. Department of Justice.  Prior to that, he was a law partner for Rosenthal and Schanfield in Chicago. Mr. Gottesman received his bachelor‘s and law degrees from the U. of Minnesota.