Stephanie Avakian

Headshot

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

Deputy Director, Division of Enforcement

Ms. Avakian is the Acting Director of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Enforcement, which has nearly 1,700 people throughout the country focused on enforcing and supporting enforcement of the federal securities laws.  From June 2014 to January 2017, she served as Deputy Director of the Division of Enforcement.

 

Prior to her appointment as Deputy Director, Ms. Avakian was a partner at Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP, where she served as a vice chair of the firm’s securities department.  Ms. Avakian represented public companies, financial institutions, boards, and individuals in a broad range of investigations and other matters before the SEC and other agencies. 

 

Ms. Avakian previously worked in the SEC’s Division of Enforcement as a branch chief in the New York Regional Office and as counsel to former SEC Commissioner Paul Carey.