Joe is Chief Counsel of the Division of Enforcement at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C. The Division of Enforcement conducts investigations into possible violations of the federal securities laws, and prosecutes civil actions for securities law violations. As Chief Counsel, Joe is responsible for providing legal and policy advice to the Commission and Enforcement staff.

Before joining the Commission staff in 2011, Joe was a Partner and Vice-Chair of the Securities Department at Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr in Washington, D.C. While at WilmerHale, his focus was on securities enforcement and related civil and criminal investigations and litigation – advising companies, their directors and officers, and individuals. He also worked on several major internal corporate investigations, including the investigation for the Special Committee of the Board of Enron Corporation. He began work at the law firm (then called Wilmer, Cutler & Pickering) as an associate in 1983, and became a Partner in 1990.

After graduating from Cornell, Joe received his law degree from Georgetown University in 1982, where he was Managing Editor of the Georgetown Law Journal. Following graduation from law school, he served for a year as a Court Law Clerk to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

Joe is an Adjunct Professor at the Columbus School of Law at Catholic University in Washington, D.C. He and his partner Sue Golden live in Washington and at their farm in the Shenandoah Valley outside of Middletown, Virginia. He enjoys running, cycling, and hiking in the city and out by the farm.

At the time of our 40th reunion, Joe continues as Chief Counsel of the Division of Enforcement at the Securities and Exchange Commission.