John V. Ayanian has joined McGuireWoods’ securities enforcement and litigation team as a partner in Washington, D.C. Bringing more than two decades of experience advising large financial institutions on broker-dealer and securities markets regulations, Ayanian will anchor the firm’s broker-dealer regulatory counseling practice.
Ayanian counsels financial institutions on securities trading, sales practice and supervision, markets, and clearing activities, including issues arising under Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) rules. He also advises broker-dealers on regulatory matters involving merger and acquisitions.
Ayanian joins McGuireWoods from Morgan Lewis, where he co-chaired the firm’s financial services industry initiative and served as the D.C. office practice leader for the investment management practice. Before that, he was a vice president and assistant general counsel with a national bank holding company, working with its broker-dealer subsidiaries. He also served as a staff attorney and special counsel in the SEC’s Division of Market Regulation, Office of Market Supervision, where he was responsible for the regulation of trading and markets.
“John is a respected attorney with a wealth of experience helping clients navigate broker-dealer and securities regulations,” said Dion Hayes, McGuireWoods’ deputy managing partner for litigation. “He is an outstanding addition to our team.”
E. Andrew Southerling, co-chair of the firm’s securities enforcement and litigation group, added: “Our clients will benefit immensely from John’s wide-ranging capabilities and in-depth understanding of the securities markets. John’s versatility in complex examinations, regulatory and enforcement matters will provide enormous value to our clients.”
McGuireWoods’ securities enforcement and litigation team counsels and defends clients involved in leading-edge regulatory issues confronting financial institutions, public companies and senior executives. The team leverages significant insight from prior posts inside the SEC, FINRA and the Department of Justice, as well as private practice, to provide clients with innovative and pragmatic counsel in regulatory investigations, enforcement proceedings and litigation, or when faced with a corporate crisis. The team is part of McGuireWoods’ nationally recognized Government Investigations & White Collar Litigation Department.
The firm’s securities enforcement group works hand-in-hand with the firm’s broker-dealer and investment adviser counseling practice, which includes former government insiders and senior in-house counsel who assist clients in regulatory compliance, examinations and investigations.
“The depth and breadth of John’s experience enhances our ability to help clients work through every stage of complex regulatory and compliance matters,” said partner William E. Goydan, head of the firm’s broker-dealer and investment adviser group. “John’s insight and leadership in this space will serve our clients well in the United States and across our international platform.”
McGuireWoods has twice been recognized by Law360 as a White Collar Practice of the Year for its work representing major companies and prominent individuals in high-stakes investigations, including high-visibility securities enforcement and litigation matters across a range of industries.
“McGuireWoods is a national leader in securities enforcement defense and is well known for its capacity to provide a full range of services to financial industry clients,” Ayanian said. “I am excited to join this world-class team and put my experience to work for our clients.”