Partners Stephanie Avakian, Lori Echavarria, William McLucas, Matthew Martens and Special Counsel David Tutor have been named to Securities Docket’s 2025 “Enforcement Elite” list, which recognizes “the best securities enforcement defense counsel in the industry.”

This year marks David Tutor’s debut on the list. A Special Counsel in WilmerHale’s Securities Litigation and Enforcement Practice, David draws on seven years of experience in the Asset Management Unit and Cyber Unit of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Enforcement, where he also served as counsel to the co-Directors of Enforcement and counsel to the New York Regional Director. He currently represents clients in complex securities enforcement and litigation matters involving the SEC and other government agencies.

Stephanie Avakian, chair of WilmerHale’s Securities and Financial Services Department, holds decades of experience in both government and private practice. As the former Director of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Enforcement, she guides clients through matters of enforcement, governance and compliance, tackling the challenges presented in today’s markets. She also regularly oversees internal investigations triggered by whistleblower complaints, governance reviews, short-seller reports, and regulatory inquiries, often involving high-stakes allegations of financial misconduct or compliance failures.

Lori Echavarria, partner-in-charge of WilmerHale’s Los Angeles office and vice-chair of the Securities and Financial Services Department, represents public companies, corporate officers, financial institutions, hedge funds and other financial market participants facing government investigations and enforcement actions. She also conducts internal investigations for boards and audit committees and provides advice and guidance on corporate governance and compliance issues.

Matthew Martens is the co-chair of the firm’s Securities Litigation and Enforcement Practice Group. He represents clients in their toughest civil and criminal investigations and litigation, and is one of the few lawyers who has appeared – and won – at trial at “all four tables:” civil plaintiff, civil defendant, criminal prosecution and criminal defendant. 

William McLucas is widely regarded as a premier advisor to public companies, boards of directors, audit committees and special committees facing corporate crises and related issues. He is also a member of Securities Docket’s Enforcement Hall of Fame and was one of eight attorneys who were inducted to the 2014 inaugural class. His tenure at WilmerHale began after he served for over eight years as Director of Enforcement for the Securities and Exchange Commission. Drawing on his legacy of leadership in securities enforcement, Bill recently shared his wealth of knowledge alongside Stephanie Avakian at the Securities Enforcement Forum 2025, where both offered their expertise on the evolving enforcement landscape.