Seasoned Securities Lawyer Margaret Gembala Nelson Joins Foley in Chicago

Foley & Lardner LLP announced today that Margaret Gembala Nelson has joined the firm’s Securities Enforcement & Litigation practice as of counsel in the Chicago office.

Nelson has more than 15 years’ experience as a regulatory and litigation lawyer focusing on complex securities, accounting, compliance and commercial matters. Her practice at Foley will center on representing accounting firms, financial service entities, corporations and their professionals in auditors’ liability matters, government enforcement matters, securities litigation and internal investigations.

Prior to joining Foley, Nelson was assistant general counsel for RSM US LLP, formerly McGladrey LLP, in Chicago, which is a leading provider of audit, tax and consulting services. While there, she oversaw and managed all of the firm’s regulatory matters before a variety of federal and state agencies and much of its litigation across all business lines. Before RSM, she worked at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Chicago Regional Office for nine years as senior counsel where she conducted enforcement investigations on a wide array of securities issues, including financial fraud, offering fraud, registration violations, market timing, advisory conflicts of interest, and insider trading.

“Margaret’s background in auditors’ liability, SEC enforcement actions and litigation, and government and independent investigations will make her a valuable asset to our clients and the firm,” said Beth Boland, chair of Foley’s Securities Enforcement & Litigation practice. “We are thrilled to have her join our team.”

At Foley, Nelson joins a team of securities enforcement and litigation attorneys who are consistently recognized by Chambers USA, Best Lawyers and Securities and White Collar Law360. In addition, the firm was ranked in 2017 by U.S. News – Best Lawyers as a National Tier One Law Firm in Securities Litigation and Regulation. She also joins an auditors’ liability practice that is one of the few in the nation that regularly represents members of the Big Four before the PCAOB, SEC, state boards of accountancy and in civil litigation. Members of these practices have also authored preeminent treatises on securities enforcement and accountants’ liability.

While assistant general counsel at RSM, Nelson developed significant expertise on legal issues confronting the accounting industry. In addition to managing the firm’s litigation matters and regulatory inquiries, investigations and actions before the SEC, PCAOB, Department of Justice, CFTC, FDIC, Department of Labor and FINRA, she regularly advised the firm on compliance, risk management and inspection issues. At the SEC, Nelson was a member of the Enforcement Division’s Asset Management Unit, a national specialized unit that focuses on issues relating to investment advisers, investment companies and private funds.

“Margaret’s breadth and depth of experience will greatly enhance the firm’s strong Chicago office and Securities Enforcement and Litigation Practice,” said Frank Pasquesi, managing partner of Foley’s Chicago office. “Her unique insight will help serve the needs of our clients in our growing Chicago market and throughout the country. We’re looking forward to having her on the team.”