WilmerHale is pleased to announce that Matthew Martens will be joining the law firm as a partner in its Securities and Litigation/Controversy Departments. Martens most recently served as Chief Litigation Counsel for the Division of Enforcement at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Since 2010, he led the Enforcement Division’s litigation program, managing cases nationwide and supervising the trial unit of 40 attorneys in Washington DC as well as litigators throughout the SEC’s 11 regional offices. Most recently, Martens served as Lead Trial Counsel in one of the SEC’s highest-profile enforcement matters arising out of the 2008 financial crisis.
“We are delighted that Matt is joining WilmerHale. He has a track record of success as the lead trial lawyer at the SEC and before that as an Assistant United States Attorney,” said Bob Novick, co-managing partner at WilmerHale. “He joins WilmerHale’s preeminent securities enforcement and litigation practices and reinforces our ability to deliver results for our clients.”
Prior to joining the SEC, Martens worked as an Assistant US Attorney in the US Attorney’s Office in the Western District of North Carolina, eventually serving as Deputy Criminal Chief where he supervised prosecutors in the white-collar crime unit. While serving as an Assistant US Attorney, he was the lead or co-lead counsel in fourteen jury trials and argued eleven and briefed seventeen cases in the US Courts of Appeals.
“Matt is an excellent securities lawyer and a first rate trial lawyer,” said Bill McLucas, chair of WilmerHale’s Securities Department. “As the stakes continue to get higher in regulatory enforcement matters generally, his experience and abilities as a litigator will be invaluable to our clients and will strengthen our practice group enormously.”
“WilmerHale is well-known by its exceptional work in both the securities and litigation areas and the firm continues to grow through its achievements. With outstanding securities and litigation services already in place, WilmerHale is a great fit for me to grow my practice. In addition, my government background will be well-suited at the firm that historically promotes a culture of public service,” said Martens.
Martens clerked for The Honorable David Sentelle of the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, and for then-Chief Justice William Rehnquist of the Supreme Court of the United States after graduating from law school. He earned his law degree from University of North Carolina and his undergraduate degree from Cedarville College.