Michael D. Mann

Michael D. Mann’s legal practice focuses on international securities regulation and enforcement and the cross-border conduct of business. He provides strategic advice and counseling to clients engaged in business subject to regulation in the United States and throughout the world. He regularly represents public companies and their audit committees, officers and directors in connection with their compliance with U.S. regulatory requirements including the Dodd-Frank, Sarbanes-Oxley and Foreign Corrupt Practices Acts as well as U.S. Economic Sanctions.  

Clients have shared that they regard Mr. Mann as one of the “wisest and most versatile tacticians” in complex securities regulatory and enforcement matters, and as "truly one of the experts in international enforcement." Others have stated that he "is the kind of outside counsel most in-house lawyers seek: he is knowledgeable, responsive and provides his advice in a very calm and effective manner on a wide range of issues." Mr. Mann has also been formally recognized as a leading practitioner by Chambers USA, Legal 500, Best Lawyers in America, Benchmark Litigation and The National Law Journal, among others.  more +

Prior to entering private practice, Mr. Mann served for seven years as the first Director of the Office of International Affairs ("OIA") at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and established the key relationships between the SEC and its foreign regulatory counterparts throughout the developed and emerging markets that continue to be the centerpiece of the SEC’s program.

Mr. Mann also led the SEC’s efforts to facilitate access to the U.S. securities markets, improve and harmonize regulation world-wide and to remove unnecessary barriers to trade.

Prior to becoming Director of OIA, Mr. Mann served as Associate Director in the SEC’s Division of Enforcement and acted as counsel for the Commission in SEC v. Levine, SEC v. Certain Unknown Purchasers (the “Santa Fe” case), and SEC v. Winans (the “Wall Street Journal” case), among others.

Mr. Mann is a Member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the Board of Advisors to the Securities and Exchange Commission Historical Society and a Member of the Federal Bar Association / Securities Law Committee Executive Council. From 1994 to 2002, he was a member of the Hampshire College Board of Trustees. From 1999 to 2003, he served as the Chairman of the Securities Market Advisory Board of the Toronto International Leadership Centre for Financial Sector Supervision. Mr. Mann was a member of the Board of Directors of the Federation of American Scientists from 1998 to 2002.

• Representation of U.S. and foreign private issuers, Boards of Directors and their Audit and Governance Committees in connection with investigations involving allegations of violations of the U.S. securities laws including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act;
• Representation of senior officers of U.S. and foreign issuers and hedge funds in connection with SEC investigations and regulatory inquiries in matters involving securities trading, accounting and disclosure, the operation and establishment of internal controls under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the application of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act; and 
• On-going advice to hedge funds and financial institutions in connection with the development of comprehensive compliance programs to address regulatory obligations imposed by U.S. and foreign securities laws and regulations.
• On-going advice to various multi-lateral development banks in relation to interaction with U.S. enforcement authorities, governance issues and the development of compliance procedures to address a variety of risks facing international organizations.

• Chambers USA: nationally ranked as a “Leading Individual” and recommended in the area of Securities Regulation: Enforcement (2009-2020)
• The Legal 500 United States: recommended in the areas of Compliance and Securities Law, SEC Enforcement and Corporate Investigations & White Collar Criminal Defense (2009-2013, 2015, 2017, 2019-2020). Comments made by clients surveyed include:
  • "Widely recognized as the 'go-to' lawyer for clients in the international financial services sector.”
  • "Praised for his unparalleled command of the global regulatory environment...”
  • "Recognized as a leader at advising clients in the international financial services sector.”
• The Best Lawyers in America®: recognized in the areas of Corporate Compliance Law, Securities Litigation and Securities Regulation (2011-2021)
• Super Lawyer in the areas of Securities Litigation, International Law and Business/Corporate Law by Super Lawyers Magazine, 2006-2020
• Distinguished Executive in the Senior Executive Service, awarded by President Clinton, 1993
• Chairman’s Award for Excellence, Fall 1990
• Manual F. Cohen Outstanding SEC Younger Lawyer Award from The Federal Bar Association, Securities Law Committee, Fall 1984

Member, Council on Foreign Relations

Member, Federal Bar Association, Securities Law Committee Executive Council

Member, Board of Advisors to the Securities and Exchange Commission Historical Society

Member, Wall Street Lawyer Editorial Board

Member, Hampshire College Board of Trustees, 1994 to 2002

Member, Securities Market Advisory Board of the Toronto International Leadership Centre for Financial Sector Supervision; Past Chairman, 1999 to 2003

Past Member, Board of Directors of the Federation of American Scientists, 1998 to 2002