Overview
(December 1, 2020, Washington, DC) — Steptoe & Johnson LLP is pleased to announce that Erica Gerson, a former associate director at the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), has re-joined the firm as a partner. Gerson, who previously practiced at the firm for nearly a decade as of counsel and associate, will be based in the Washington office.
Most recently at FINRA, Gerson served as associate director in the National Cause and Financial Crimes Detection Programs department. In that position, Gerson supervised investigations regarding violations of FINRA rules, federal securities laws and rules, and other financial crimes. She also advised officers at FINRA regarding the appropriate disposition of matters, and oversaw referral of matters to federal and state regulators. Prior to that position, Gerson served as senior counsel in FINRA's Enforcement Department, where she represented FINRA in disciplinary actions and led investigations regarding securities fraud, supervisory failures, disclosure violations, and a variety of sales practice violations.
During her time at Steptoe, Gerson focused her practice on commercial litigation. She represented clients in litigation before federal and state courts and arbitration panels, and also conducted internal investigations. An active member of Steptoe's pro bono program, Gerson represented foster parents in contested adoption cases and served on the advisory board of the Children’s Law Center.
Phil West, chair of Steptoe, commented: "Erica is a talented trial lawyer who has great courtroom skills and credibility. We saw that when she was first here at Steptoe, and more recently at FINRA she gained additional substantive knowledge of financial regulations and additional experience investigating and litigating cases under those regulations. Erica will be an excellent addition to our financial services and litigation practices, and we’re delighted to welcome her back to the firm."
Stacie Hartman, co-chair of Steptoe's Financial Services Group, added: "Erica's leadership at FINRA will significantly enhance our practice, and we are thrilled to have her help lead our enforcement group."
Gerson commented: "I'm excited to be rejoining the firm where I began my legal career. I'm looking forward to utilizing my experience in securities enforcement, financial crime investigations, and broker-dealer regulation to help grow the firm's financial services practice."
Gerson, a certified fraud examiner, earned her B.A. from the University of Maryland and her J.D., cum laude, from American University. Prior to joining Steptoe, she worked as a law clerk to Magistrate Judge Charles Day of the US District Court for the District of Maryland.
About Steptoe
In more than 100 years of practice, Steptoe has earned an international reputation for vigorous representation of clients before governmental agencies, successful advocacy in litigation and arbitration, and creative and practical advice in structuring business transactions. Steptoe has more than 500 lawyers and other professional staff across offices in Beijing, Brussels, Chicago, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Washington. For more information, visit www.steptoe.com.