On 13 June 2025, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (US SEC) appointed Brian T. Daly as the Director of the US SEC’s Division of Investment Management, with his term set to commence on 8 July 2025. Mr. Daly, a prominent figure in the investment management legal and compliance sector, brings a formidable blend of private practice and fund management experience to one of the Commission’s most pivotal regulatory roles.
Mr. Daly served as a partner at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP in New York, where for the past four years he has advised investment advisers on regulatory compliance, fund formation, operations, trading risks, and governance matters. Before Akin, he spent nearly a decade at Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP, and earlier served in senior in-house legal roles, including as Chief Legal and Compliance Officer at Millennium Partners, Kepos Capital, and Raptor Capital Management.
Mr. Daly’s academic credentials include a J.D. from Stanford Law School, where he served as Associate Editor of the Stanford Law Review and Editor-in-Chief of the Stanford Journal of International Law. He also holds a B.A. magna cum laude from Catholic University, and an M.A. from the East-West Center at the University of Hawaii. His prior contributions include teaching legal ethics at Yale Law School and serving on the Board of the Managed Funds Association.
US SEC Chairman Paul S. Atkins stated: “Brian has deep familiarity with all levels of the investment management industry, and I look forward to working with him as we address smart, effective oversight of the industry and its relationships with investors. I am looking forward to working with Brian on common-sense regulation that does not impose unnecessary burdens and genuinely embraces the public comment process.”
Sharing his perspective, Mr. Daly commented: “I’ve long respected and appreciated the SEC’s commitment to regulatory oversight while advising clients on compliance and providing public comment from the investment management point of view during agency rulemaking. I am optimistic about this new day at the SEC and eager to get to work with Chairman Atkins and my new colleagues to ensure regulatory compliance by investment advisers and fund managers while tailoring rulemakings within our statutory authority.”
