Bill Martin’s nearly two decades of government and private practice experience enables him to guide financial services companies, blockchain and other fintech companies, audit and special committees, officers and directors, and others in connection with internal investigations, government and regulatory inquiries and enforcement actions, and litigation.
A former senior counsel in the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s Market Abuse Unit, Bill has investigated and prosecuted securities cases involving insider trading, market-structure practices, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), failure to supervise, investment advisors, and cybersecurity. In these matters, Bill worked closely with the Justice Department, FBI, IRS, FINRA, and other regulators.
Before entering public service, Bill spent six years in the litigation practice of a major New York law firm, advising clients in shareholder derivative and securities litigation and investigations. He frequently advised on cross-border matters and on litigation involving accounting fraud, internal controls, and other issues connected to the FCPA.
Private Practice Experience
- Representing one of the largest digital-assets trading platforms in enforcement investigations by the Securities and Exchange Commission into potential registration violations
Selected Government Experience
- FCPA, internal accounting controls, and books-and-records action related to conduct in India, China, and Kuwait
Admissions
Bar Admissions
- New York
Court Admissions
- US Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
Education
- University of Chicago Law School, J.D., with honors; Comment Editor, University of Chicago Law Review
- Princeton University, Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, M.P.A., Domestic Public Policy
- Carleton College, B.A., magna cum laude, Economics and Political Economy
Honors & Awards
- Three-time recipient of Director of Enforcement Division Award, Securities and Exchange Commission
- Paul R. Carey Award, Securities and Exchange Commission
Professional Activities
Clerkships
- Honorable Chester J. Straub, US Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
Author
- "Centralized Exchanges," Chapter 3, Legal Matters in Web 3: A Desk Reference (September 7, 2024)
Speaker
- “In the “Shadow” of Panuwat: SEC Insider Trading Unit Alumni Discuss Compliance Considerations Following Successful Shadow Trading Enforcement Action,” Practising Law Institute (June 11, 2024)
Corporate & Government Experience
- Senior Counsel, Division of Enforcement, Market Abuse Unit, US Securities and Exchange Commission (2015-2019)