Allison Herren Lee to Step Down as SEC Commissioner
Allison Herren Lee announced that she will step down as a commissioner at the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Allison Herren Lee announced that she will step down as a commissioner at the Securities and Exchange Commission and not seek a second term.
The SEC is comprised of five commissioners who are appointed by the president and no more than three may belong to the same political party. Lee was appointed by President Donald Trump in 2019 to fill a Democratic seat, and along with Republican Elad Roisman who recently vacated his position, there are two open spots to fill. Lee has agreed to serve until her replacement is appointed.
Lee, who focused on climate and sustainability, first joined the SEC’s Division of Enforcement in the Denver regional office in 2005. She served in a number of roles, including as counselor to former Commissioner Kara Stein, senior counsel in the complex financial instruments unit, and acting chair last year.
Lee has more than two decades of experience as a securities law practitioner, and has written, lectured, and taught courses internationally in Spain and Italy on financial regulation and corporate law.
“I have been fortunate to rely on Allison’s expertise throughout my time at the SEC on matters as wide-ranging as agency administration, enforcement, and policy issues,” said SEC chair, Gary Gensler. “She always maintains a clear sense of purpose on behalf of the American public, and we have benefited greatly from her service.”
Prior to government service, Lee was a partner at Sherman & Howard LLC, focusing on securities, antitrust, and commercial litigation. A member of the Colorado bar, she holds a bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Colorado and a juris doctor from the University of Denver College of Law, where she was salutatorian, a chancellor’s scholar, and served on the law review.
