The SEC named Joseph Brenner as Chief Counsel of the Division of Enforcement, a role in which he'll oversee the process of providing legal and policy advice on potential enforcement actions before they are recommended to the Commission for approval.  He's expected to begin in the next several weeks.  The Chief Counsel position had been held by Joan McKown, who left in August after 24 years of service. 

Mr. Brenner joins the SEC from Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP, where he's been a partner since 1990.

  He most recently served as Vice Chair of the firm's Securities Department and as a member of the Securities Litigation and Enforcement Practice Group.  At WilmerHale, Mr. Brenner's focus was securities enforcement, internal corporate investigations, and related civil and criminal litigation.  In addition, Mr. Brenner has led and participated in many audit committee, special committee, and other internal corporate investigations.

Prior to joining WilmerHale, Mr. Brenner was a law clerk for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.  He received his JD cum laude from Georgetown Law and his undergraduate degree from Cornell.   [SEC PR 10-218, 11/10]