As President-elect Donald Trump’s search for a new U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) chair continues, Teresa Goody Guillén, a seasoned SEC veteran, has emerged as a leading contender.
Goody Guillén is currently a partner at BakerHostetler and co-leads its blockchain practice. Reports suggest that several crypto firms and industry veterans are privately advocating for her appointment, citing her prior experience at the SEC and her history of opposing the regulatory agency while representing blockchain companies and Wall Street firms.
U.S. #crypto and #capital markets will thrive under President Trump. The public has loudly and clearly spoken; current govt has a responsibility to serve the will of the people. “Government of the people, by the people, for the people.” -Abraham Lincoln
— Teresa Goody Guillén (@teresagoody) November 13, 2024
Goody Guillén has emerged as a strong contender among a competitive mix of candidates vying to succeed SEC Chair Gary Gensler, who is expected to step down during the transition to a new administration as a part of customary practice. Other contenders for the role include Robert Stebbins, a partner at Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP; Dan Gallagher, Robinhood’s Chief Legal Officer; Brad Bondi, a partner at Paul Hastings; former SEC Commissioner Paul Atkins; and Brian Brooks, the former Acting Comptroller of the Currency.
The Trump team appears focused on selecting a candidate with a deep understanding of the crypto industry, someone who would take a restrained approach to applying securities laws to digital assets until Congress establishes clear regulations.
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Notably, the crypto industry has been actively engaging with the Trump team during this selection process, bolstered by significant campaign contributions of over $130 million to the former president and other Republican candidates. Reports also indicate that Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong held a private meeting with Trump to discuss potential appointments.
About Teresa Goody Guillén
Brendan Playford, co-founder of Masa, commented: “She has a clear understanding of the laws and the way the SEC works.” Playford added that she would be an immediate change-maker, significantly transforming the industry due to her pro-crypto stance.
Goody Guillén previously served as an attorney for the Office of the General Counsel at the SEC from 2009 to 2011, during Mary Schapiro’s tenure as the first woman to lead the agency. She also held the role of Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director at Kalorama Partners, where she worked alongside former SEC Chair Harvey Pitt, counseling clients on SEC enforcement issues.
Peers describe Goody Guillén as embodying the principles the Trump team seeks in an SEC chair. Charley Cooper, former COO of the CFTC and current senior advisor at R3, praised her: “She’s understated…but tough as hell.” Cooper further noted, “She would govern with a substantive understanding of securities laws as they apply to both traditional markets and crypto. She will dramatically roll back the previous administration’s reliance on regulation through enforcement and outdated statutes from 90 years ago.”
Nicole Trudeau, General Counsel at investment firm Wave Digital Assets, who has collaborated with Goody Guillén on crypto-related bankruptcies and SEC receiverships, called her “a true trailblazer in the crypto space” and the embodiment of what President Trump looks for the sector.
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Also Read: SEC Observes Quietly While the Industry Thrives: Coin Bureau CEO
