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.’”
Barbara Stettner
Partner
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.
Expertise
Industries
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
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
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
Fraudulent emails
Please note that there is a known fraud/scam using this individual's name.
More information on fraud using the A&O Shearman brand can be found here.
Please contact inhouselegal@aoshearman.com if you have been contacted.
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.