Morgan Lewis continues its success in attracting outstanding former high-level government officials with the addition of Frederick Block, whose 15-year career at the US Securities and Exchange Commission includes most recently managing litigation nationwide as supervisory trial counsel. Fred, who joins as a partner resident in Washington, DC, will focus on SEC enforcement, investigations, litigation, and trials.
“As a seasoned leader and litigator skilled in the intricacies of taking a case from running an investigation to trial, Fred is a terrific addition to our SEC team,” said Firm Chair Jami McKeon. “He adds a valuable perspective on the full spectrum of securities laws, including a wide variety of public company reporting matters, market manipulation, and insider trading. Our clients will benefit from his deep experience with financial services enforcement cases, among other matters.”
At the SEC, Fred was a key member of the management team responsible for overseeing all 120 trial attorneys throughout the country. He also advised the director of enforcement on litigation risk and strategy, and he worked closely with both the SEC trial and investigative staff in conducting evidentiary reviews, assessing litigation strategies, participating in settlement negotiations, and contributing to all phrases of trial preparation.
“As part of our strategic approach to bolstering our SEC enforcement capabilities, Fred’s leadership experience with the Commission will provide invaluable benefit to our clients,” said J. Gordon Cooney, Jr., leader of Morgan Lewis’s global litigation practice. “His strong trial history and insight into enforcement matters will be important to companies and individuals facing actual or threatened SEC enforcement action.”
Fred’s arrival follows that of several other former SEC officials, including Kelly Gibson, the former acting deputy director of Enforcement and leader of Enforcement’s Climate and ESG Task Force during her 14-year SEC tenure; 13-year veteran Erin Martin, who previously served as legal branch chief in the Division of Corporation Finance; and Jeff Boujoukos, who was with the SEC for more than a decade, most recently as director of the Philadelphia Regional Office.
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