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C. Wallace DeWitt

Senior Counsel

C. Wallace represents foreign and domestic financial institutions as to a variety of securities and banking regulatory matters, with a particular focus on the private wealth industry and the cross-border marketing of investment services and financial products.

He regularly represents clients before U.S. federal and state financial regulatory authorities, including the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

Before rejoining the firm in 2019, he served as Senior Advisor and Counsel to Acting Chairman and Commissioner Michael S. Piwowar of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, advising the Commissioner on matters pertaining to the Division of Corporation Finance, the Office of the Chief Accountant, the Office of International Affairs, and the Division of Enforcement. He was also designated as the SEC’s observer of the FINRA FinTech Industry Committee.

From 2014 to 2017, he was a senior associate in the firm’s U.S. Bank Regulatory Group, immediately prior to which he served as the Executive Director of Research for the Committee on Capital Markets Regulation, a non-profit research organization dedicated to enhancing the competitiveness of U.S. capital markets and the stability of the U.S. financial system, under the direction of Professor Hal S. Scott. Previously, he served for four years as an associate in the Tokyo and Hong Kong offices of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, advising issuers and underwriters on debt and equity capital markets transactions. Upon graduation from Harvard Law School, he served as law clerk to the Hon. Laurence H. Silberman of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

He is an adjunct scholar at the Cato Institute’s Center for Monetary and Financial Alternatives, a member of the Exchequer Club, and a member of the Financial Services & Corporate Governance Committee of the Federalist Society’s Regulatory Transparency Project. He is proficient in eight languages at various degrees of fluency.

Experience

Pro bono

Advising the Chesapeake Legal Alliance regarding assorted conservation matters before state and local authorities in the Chesapeake watershed area.

Published Work

Speaking Engagements

  • "The Role of Private v Public Markets," Harvard Program on International Financial Systems, 26th Annual Japan-U.S. Symposium, Karuizawa, Nov. 16-18, 2023
  • “Bitcoin’s Comeback,” Freedom & Progress 2023: FREEOPP’s Annual Conference, Nov. 6, 2023
  • “View from the Ground Level—Practical Issues regarding Paycheck Protection Program Implementation: A Conversation with Banking Attorneys Around the Country,” Federalist Society Teleforum, Apr. 24, 2020
  • SOX Auditor Attestation Requirements, Federalist Society Teleforum, Sept. 25, 2019 SEC Enforcement Update--Avoiding Trouble, 34th Midyear

Leadership Positions And Professional Affiliations

  • Adjunct Scholar, Center for Monetary and Financial Alternatives, Cato Institute
  • Member, Financial Regulation & Corporate Governance Committee, Regulatory Transparency Project, Federalist Society
  • Member, Exchequer Club

Awards

  • Outstanding Firm of Fall 2023 award for pro bono work on behalf of Chesapeake Legal Alliance

Qualifications

Admissions

Admitted: Bar of the State of New York, 2009 

Admitted: Bar of the District of Columbia, 2016 

U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit

Academic

J.D., cum laude, Harvard Law School, 2008 

M.Phil, Faculty of Oriental Studies, Gates Cambridge Scholarship, King’s College, University of Cambridge, 2006 

B.A., International Studies & Humanities, summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, Alpheus Henry Snow Prize, Yale College, 2003

Languages

English, Japanese
Disclaimer
A&O Shearman was formed on May 1, 2024 by the combination of Shearman & Sterling LLP and Allen & Overy LLP and their respective affiliates (the legacy firms). Any matters referred to above may include matters undertaken by one or more of the legacy firms rather than A&O Shearman.