[ By Howard Haykin ] The SEC's announced Thursday that the Division of Trading and Markets has a new Deputy Director, who has been a member of Chairman Mary Schapiro’s staff since March 2010, most recently serving as Deputy Chief of Staff. In his new role, James Burns will oversee several of the Division’s core regulatory functions, including market oversight and operations, derivatives policy and trading practices, and chief counsel and enforcement liaison functions.  He'll also contribute to the Division’s ongoing implementation of key provisions of the Dodd-Frank Reform Act.  In addition, Mr. Burns will assist with the overall management of the Division, working closely with Division Director Robert Cook and other Deputy Director, John Ramsay. While on Ms. Schapiro's staff, Mr. Burns advised the Chairman on the development and execution of the agency’s rulemaking and policy agenda as well as other key agency initiatives.  He also served as counsel to Chairman Schapiro on issues involving the Division of Trading and Markets, including the agency’s analysis and response to the Flash Crash on 5/6/10, and numerous other market structure and Dodd-Frank related rulemakings, studies, and programs.

"In his new position, Jim will continue to help put in place the new regulatory regime governing complex derivatives as well as critical market structure improvements." -- Chairman Mary Schapiro.

"... I am delighted that we will have the benefit of Jim’s leadership, initiative, and experience.  Investors will be well-served by Jim’s dedication to the Commission’s mission and his wide-ranging knowledge of the diverse markets and intermediaries we regulate." -- Robert Cook, Trading & Markets Director.

Mr. Burns is expected to begin his new role in the Division in late May.  He succeeds James Brigagliano (as Deputy Director), who left the SEC for the private sector. [ By Howard Haykin ] Prior to joining the Chairman’s staff, ... Mr. Burns was a counsel to Commissioner Kathleen Casey, advising her chiefly on investment management and enforcement matters.  Before joining the SEC in 2008, Mr. Burns was a securities lawyer in private practice who focused on investment management and broker-dealer regulatory and enforcement matters. He previously served as a law clerk to now-chief Judge William Traxler on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.  Mr. Burns also worked at the American Council on Education and at Oriel College, Oxford University. Mr. Burns received his JD, cum laude, from Georgetown University Law Center.  He holds masters and doctoral degrees from Oxford University, and graduated with an AB, magna cum laude, from Harvard College. [SEC PR 12-96, 5/17/12]