Barbara is US Head of Financial Services Regulatory. She is a member of the Global Financial Services Regulatory Steering Committee and previously served as a member of A&O Shearman's Global Board and as the Manager of the Washington, D.C. office. 
Barbara focuses on advising U.S. and foreign financial institutions on their regulatory and compliance obligations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and the Bank Secrecy Act. Barbara represents foreign and domestic banks, asset managers, private funds, insurance companies and broker-dealers on the various regulatory aspects of their domestic and cross-border securities activities. Barbara also focuses on the regulatory obligations of domestic and cross-border fund raising activities including broker-dealer, finder and placement agent status questions, sales practice requirements and the federal and state pay-to-play regulations. 
 
Before entering private practice, she worked at the SEC’s Division of Market Regulation (now Trading and Markets), where she served as Special Counsel in the Office of the Chief Counsel and as an Attorney-Advisor in the Office of Risk Management and Control. She also served as Senior Counsel in the Commission’s Office of International Affairs. Prior to joining the firm, Barbara practiced at prominent law firms in Washington, D.C. and London. As part of the Financial Services Volunteer Corp, she regularly provides pro bono technical assistance to emerging markets on the regulatory and supervisory systems of markets and market intermediaries, including Jordan, the UAE, Russia, and Romania.
 
Barbara is widely recognized as a leading regulatory lawyer, having been recognized in Chambers USA in both Securities: Regulation: Advisory and Financial Services Regulation: Broker Dealer (Compliance). According to Chambers USA 2020, “Barbara is said to bring ‘years of experience of what has worked’ and ‘broad-based fundamental skills and expertise in broker dealer matters.’ A client enthuses that ‘she does an excellent job of spotting all the regulatory issues that might be implicated in a question and bringing all of those issues together.’”

Published Work

  • "Crypto-tunities: Transaction strategies in the challenging crypto markets", Allen & Overy update, July 13, 2022
  • "Oh no, where's my crypto? What happens to crypto assets when a custodian fails", Allen & Overy update, June 23, 2022
  • "Securities and Exchange Commission Announces Protection Rule Initiative", Allen & Overy update, June 28, 2016, with Chris Salter, William White, Kimberly Chehardy and Matthew Daigler
  • "The SEC continues its focus on unlicensed activities of non-U.S. employees of non-U.S. financial institutions: The recent Credit Suisse settlement", Allen & Overy publication, March 3, 2014, with Bill Satchell, William White and Claire Rajan
  • “Our View: What Does the New Wave of Municipal Securities Enforcement Cases Mean for Municipal Underwriters?”, Allen & Overy publication (September 17, 2013), with William White, Chris Salter and Charles Borden
  • “Non-U.S. Issuers Selling Fund Interests In The United States!, The Review of Securities & Commodities Regulation (July, 2012), with Charles Borden, Sam Brown and Claire Rajan
  • "CFTC Adopts Pay-to-Play Rule for Swap Dealers", Allen & Overy publication (February 27, 2012), with Charles Borden, Jason Abel, and Rachel Loko
  • "Walking a Narrow Path: The Proposed Volcker Rule and Bank-Affiliated Asset Managers", Allen & Overy Publication (November 2, 2011), with Douglas Landy, Chris Salter, John Williams, Deborah North, David Lucking, Lawton Camp, Jillian Ashley and Robert Schwartz
  • "The Volcker Rule and Foreign Banks, Part II: The “Foreign Funds Exemption” and the Outer Limits of Extraterritorial Reach", Allen & Overy publication (October 27, 2011), with Douglas Landy, Chris Salter, John Williams, Deborah North, David Lucking, Lawton Camp and Robert Schwartz
  • “Agencies Release Proposal To Implement Volcker Rule and Request Comment” Allen & Overy Publication (October 11, 2011), with Douglas Landy, Chris Salter, John Williams, Deborah North, David Lucking and Lawton Camp
  • “Campaign Contributions: Benevolent Civic Participation or Danger Zone for Investment Advisers to Private Funds?,” The Investment Lawyer (February 2007), with Bill Satchell, Adam Hellman, and Astri Kimball
  • “The Distribution of Private Fund Securities: Regulatory Considerations and Potential Liabilities When Using Unlicensed Finders,” The Investment Lawyer (September 2005), with Darren Vieira
  • “The New Anti-Money Laundering Responsibilities of Broker-Dealers,” Insights, The Corporate & Securities Law Advisor (July 2002)

Speaking Engagements

  • “Will Non-Legal Services Save Law Firms?,” April 25, 2017. ABA Section of Int’l Law Spring Meeting 
  • “Alternative Global Investment Vehicles and Derivatives Regulation,” April 19, 2017. PLI Global Capital Markets & the U.S. Securities Law Seminar 
  • “Social Media Regulation Unraveled,” February 23, 2017. SIFMA Social Media and Digital Marketing Seminar
  • “The Future of Dodd-Frank,” November 16, 2016. University of Maryland Center for Financial Policy The Future of Financial Regulation Conference
  • “Fintech Regulatory Landscape,” November 4, 2016. FMA 2016 Legal & Legislative Issues Conference 
  • SIFMA “Social Media Seminar,” February 26, 2015. Moderator on “Navigating the Web of Social Media Regulation” session
  • Wells Fargo, “Social Media Risk Summit” October 7, 2014
  • PLI “Global Capital Markets & the U.S. Securities Laws 2014: Raising Capital in an Evolving Regulatory Environment,” June 5, 2014. Panelist on “Alternative Investment Vehicles and Derivative Regulation” session
  • SIFMA “Social Media Seminar,” February 27, 2014. Moderator on “Navigating the Web of Social Media Regulation” session
  • SIFMA “Cross Border Regulation in the Global Marketplace,” January 14, 2014. Panelist on “From 10,000 Feet - Economic Activity Crosses Borders, But Regulation Stays Home” session
  • SIFMA “Social Media Seminar,” October 13, 2013. Moderator on “Navigating the Web of Social Media Regulation” session
  • PLI “Global Capital Markets & the U.S. Securities Laws 2013: Raising Capital in an Evolving Regulatory Environment,” June 5, 2013. Panelist on “Alternative Investment Vehicles and Derivative Regulation” session
  • SIFMA “Social Media Seminar,” February 28, 2013. Moderator on “Navigating the Web of Social Media Regulation” session. 
  • SIFMA “Social Media Seminar,” June 20, 2012. Moderator on “Navigating the Web of Social Media Regulation” session 
  • PLI “Global Capital Markets & the U.S. Securities Laws 2012: Raising Capital in an Evolving Regulatory Environment,” April 25, 2012. Panelist on “Alternative Investment Vehicles and Derivative Regulation” session
  • PLI “Hedge Fund Registration and Compliance 2012,” January 31, 2012. Panelist on “Hedge Fund Investor Relations: Challenges and Opportunities” session 
  • SIFMA “Social Media Seminar,” October 1, 2011. Moderator on “Compliance Challenges for Social Media” session

Qualifications

Admissions

Registered Foreign Lawyer, England and Wales, 2024

Admitted to the Bar, District of Columbia, 1997

Admitted to the Bar, State of California, 1995

Academic

LL.M., London School of Economics and Political Science, 1995

J.D., Pepperdine University, 1994

M.B.A. in Finance and Economics, Pepperdine University, 1993

B.A, University of California, 1989

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Disclaimer
A&O Shearman was formed on May 1, 2024 by the combination of Shearman & Sterling LLP and Allen & Overy LLP and their respective affiliates (the legacy firms). Any matters referred to above may include matters undertaken by one or more of the legacy firms rather than A&O Shearman.