SEC Appoints J. Russell McGranahan as New General Counsel

USA: SEC Appoints J. Russell McGranahan as New General Counsel

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission announced today that J. Russell “Rusty” McGranahan will serve as the agency’s new General Counsel, overseeing legal guidance for the Chairman, Commissioners, and staff.

Leadership Transition

McGranahan succeeds Jeffrey Finnell, who has been Acting General Counsel since the position became vacant. Finnell will continue at the Commission in the role of Deputy General Counsel.

Chairman’s Remarks

SEC Chairman Paul S. Atkins said, “I have known Rusty for many years and am excited to have recruited someone of his caliber and experience to my senior team. In addition to being a seasoned securities and M&A lawyer, he has served as both a public company and government agency general counsel. I expect Rusty to deploy these skills immediately across a wide range of priorities, including our initiatives to strengthen the capital markets and deliver on a robust rulemaking agenda.”

Atkins added, “I thank Jeff for his service as Acting General Counsel. I am pleased that he will continue serving at the Commission as Deputy General Counsel. His sound judgment and deep expertise in the securities laws are invaluable to the SEC.”

New Counsel’s Perspective

McGranahan remarked, “It is an honor to have the opportunity to join the SEC and the Chairman’s senior team during this period of rapid technological and financial innovation. I look forward to working with my new SEC colleagues to embrace developments in a manner that responsibly fosters and maintains America’s preeminence in financial services and capital formation.”

Professional Background

McGranahan brings three decades of experience across government and the private sector. He most recently served as General Counsel of the U.S. General Services Administration, where he guided key initiatives during the first ten months of the current administration. Prior to that, he was General Counsel of Focus Financial Partners, overseeing the firm through its 2018 IPO and its 2023 transition to a private company. Earlier in his career, he held senior legal positions at BlackRock, including Managing Director, M&A Counsel, and Corporate Secretary, and began his practice at Skadden, Arps and White & Case, spending three years in Eastern Europe working on early public offerings in the region.

Education and Credentials

He earned a Juris Doctor from Yale Law School and a Bachelor of Arts, summa cum laude, in Economics and Politics from the Catholic University of America, and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.

Regulatory Context

The appointment arrives as the SEC intensifies its rulemaking efforts to address emerging financial technologies and market dynamics, underscoring the agency’s focus on maintaining market integrity while supporting innovation.

Future Outlook

Analysts anticipate that McGranahan’s extensive legal and M&A experience will shape the Commission’s approach to complex securities matters, including those involving digital assets and evolving capital market structures.

This report is based on information from SEC, licensed under Public Domain (U.S. Government Work). Source: Official U.S. Government release.