Mary Gail Gearns practices in the firm’s Financial Institutions Regulatory, Enforcement and Litigation Group, where she handles a wide range of securities regulatory and enforcement matters and litigation. She regularly represents broker-dealers, other financial services firms and their senior management in connection with investigations by the SEC, DOJ, FINRA and other state regulators and attorneys general. Many of her matters involve parallel proceedings by multiple regulators, follow-on civil or criminal actions, and referrals to enforcement. Mary Gail’s practice includes conducting internal reviews and investigations and providing advice concerning clients’ compliance with federal and state securities laws. Mary Gail has more than 25 years of litigation experience, including all phases of litigation, from the initial pleading stage through trial and appeal.

Mary Gail has handled numerous matters relating to the origination and sale of structured products, including residential mortgage-backed securities, auction rate securities and CDOs, and she has defended several major broker-dealers in federal and state court actions and arbitrations relating to the marketing and sale of these products.