Ex-SEC whistleblowing chief joins Arnold & Porter as partner

Ex-SEC whistleblowing chief joins Arnold & Porter as partner

Jane Norberg will focus on helping companies navigate whistleblower issue, allegations and defence to allegations

Jane Norberg, the chief of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), has quit the government job and joined the US-based international law firm Arnold & Porter as a partner.

She figures in the list of several government lawyers who have opted to join private practice over the past three months following Jonathan Brightbill (Winston Straw), Ian Conner (Latham & Watkins) and Robert Mueller (Morrison & Foerster).

Norberg would be based at the firm's Washington DC office to strengthen its securities enforcement and litigation practice.

Her practice will focus on helping companies navigate whistleblower issues, assess their exposure to allegations, as well as advising on response and defence to allegations.

"Jane is joining the firm at a time when we see an uptick in whistleblower-driven investigations and enforcement actions. Jane's knowledge and vast experience on SEC rules and processes, along with her unique understanding of whistleblower issues will be invaluable for our clients navigating the critical intersection of enforcement, regulation and compliance," Arnold & Porter's chairman Richard Alexander said.

Norberg was associated with the US SEC before being promoted as chief of the whistleblowers' office in 2016. She was the second-ever chief of the department ever since it was created in 2010 as a part of the 2010 Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.

She had spent 11 years in private practice at Shearman & Sterling and five years as a special agent in the US secret service.

At SEC, Norberg advised on all whistleblower protection cases and co-led the SEC enforcement division's diversity and inclusion initiative.

"I was drawn to Arnold & Porter's deep bench in the securities enforcement and litigation, employment and white collar and government investigation areas. I look forward to joining these professionals in assisting clients to anticipate and proactively address whistleblower issues when they arise and to mitigate the potential legal and reputational consequences," Norberg said.