Barbara Stettner
Partner
Washington, D.C.
Barbara Stettner
Partner
Washington, D.C.
Contact details
Barbara is the Head of Allen & Overy’s US Financial Services Regulatory Practice and a member of the Global Financial Services Regulatory Steering Committee and previously served as a member of A&O's Global Board and as the Manager of the Washington, D.C. office. Barbara's practice focuses on advising U.S. and foreign financial institutions on their regulatory and compliance obligations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and the Bank Secrecy Act.
Barbara represents foreign and domestic banks, asset managers, private funds, insurance companies and broker-dealers on the various regulatory aspects of their domestic and cross-border securities activities. Barbara's practice also focuses on the regulatory obligations of domestic and cross-border fund raising activities including broker-dealer, finder and placement agent status questions, sales practice requirements and the federal and state pay-to-play regulations.
Before entering private practice, she worked at the SEC’s Division of Market Regulation (now Trading and Markets), where she served as Special Counsel in the Office of the Chief Counsel and as an Attorney-Advisor in the Office of Risk Management and Control. She also served as Senior Counsel in the Commission’s Office of International Affairs. Prior to joining the firm, Barbara practiced at prominent law firms in Washington, D.C. and London. As part of the Financial Services Volunteer Corp, she regularly provides pro bono technical assistance to emerging markets on the regulatory and supervisory systems of markets and market intermediaries, including Jordan, the UAE, Russia, and Romania.
Barbara is widely recognized as a leading regulatory lawyer, having been recognized in Chambers USA in both Securities: Regulation: Advisory and Financial Services Regulation: Broker Dealer (Compliance). According to Chambers USA 2020, “Barbara is said to bring ‘years of experience of what has worked’ and ‘broad-based fundamental skills and expertise in broker dealer matters.’ A client enthuses that ‘she does an excellent job of spotting all the regulatory issues that might be implicated in a question and bringing all of those issues together.’”
Expertise
Practices
Sectors
Qualifications
Professional
Registered Foreign Lawyer, England and Wales, 2024
Admitted to the Bar, District of Columbia, 1997
Admitted to the Bar, State of California, 1995
Academic
LL.M., London School of Economics and Political Science, 1995
J.D., Pepperdine University, 1994
M.B.A. in Finance and Economics, Pepperdine University, 1993
B.A, University of California, 1989
Related articles
Publications: 07 August 2023
Legal hot takes – the ECB’s Digital Euro
The Digital Euro project is the European Central Bank’s (ECB) response to the changing landscape of consumer payments, driven by the rise of cryptocurrency, payment fintechs and electronic…
Publications: 04 January 2023
Federal banking regulators issue joint statement on crypto-asset risks to banking organizations
Publications: 03 January 2023
Allen & Overy partners author U.S. chapter of Legal 500’s Country Comparative Guide to Fintech
Publications: 17 October 2022
Expertise
Practices
Sectors
Qualifications
Professional
Registered Foreign Lawyer, England and Wales, 2024
Admitted to the Bar, District of Columbia, 1997
Admitted to the Bar, State of California, 1995
Academic
LL.M., London School of Economics and Political Science, 1995
J.D., Pepperdine University, 1994
M.B.A. in Finance and Economics, Pepperdine University, 1993
B.A, University of California, 1989
Fraudulent emails
Please note there is a known fraud/scam currently using the Allen & Overy brand and Barbara Stettner's name.More information on fraud using the Allen & Overy brand can be found here.
Published work
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"Crypto-tunities: Transaction strategies in the challenging crypto markets", Allen & Overy update, July 13, 2022
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"Oh no, where's my crypto? What happens to crypto assets when a custodian fails", Allen & Overy update, June 23, 2022
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"Securities and Exchange Commission Announces Protection Rule Initiative", Allen & Overy update, June 28, 2016, with Chris Salter, William White, Kimberly Chehardy and Matthew Daigler
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"The SEC continues its focus on unlicensed activities of non-U.S. employees of non-U.S. financial institutions: The recent Credit Suisse settlement", Allen & Overy publication, March 3, 2014, with Bill Satchell, William White and Claire Rajan
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“Our View: What Does the New Wave of Municipal Securities Enforcement Cases Mean for Municipal Underwriters?”, Allen & Overy publication (September 17, 2013), with William White, Chris Salter and Charles Borden
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“Non-U.S. Issuers Selling Fund Interests In The United States!, The Review of Securities & Commodities Regulation (July, 2012), with Charles Borden, Sam Brown and Claire Rajan
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"CFTC Adopts Pay-to-Play Rule for Swap Dealers", Allen & Overy publication (February 27, 2012), with Charles Borden, Jason Abel, and Rachel Loko
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"Walking a Narrow Path: The Proposed Volcker Rule and Bank-Affiliated Asset Managers", Allen & Overy Publication (November 2, 2011), with Douglas Landy, Chris Salter, John Williams, Deborah North, David Lucking, Lawton Camp, Jillian Ashley and Robert Schwartz
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"The Volcker Rule and Foreign Banks, Part II: The “Foreign Funds Exemption” and the Outer Limits of Extraterritorial Reach", Allen & Overy publication (October 27, 2011), with Douglas Landy, Chris Salter, John Williams, Deborah North, David Lucking, Lawton Camp and Robert Schwartz
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“Agencies Release Proposal To Implement Volcker Rule and Request Comment” Allen & Overy Publication (October 11, 2011), with Douglas Landy, Chris Salter, John Williams, Deborah North, David Lucking and Lawton Camp
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“Campaign Contributions: Benevolent Civic Participation or Danger Zone for Investment Advisers to Private Funds?,” The Investment Lawyer (February 2007), with Bill Satchell, Adam Hellman, and Astri Kimball
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“The Distribution of Private Fund Securities: Regulatory Considerations and Potential Liabilities When Using Unlicensed Finders,” The Investment Lawyer (September 2005), with Darren Vieira
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“The New Anti-Money Laundering Responsibilities of Broker-Dealers,” Insights, The Corporate & Securities Law Advisor (July 2002)
Recognition
Barbara is extremely knowledgeable and also not afraid to push the envelope to improve the regulatory environment.
Chambers USA 2020, Financial Services Regulation: Nationwide
Barbara is the person that makes everything happen. She has a very keen sensibility for the client’s need to consider all aspects. My first phone call is always to Barbara.
Chambers USA 2020, Financial Services Regulation: Nationwide
There are very few people that are better than Barbara Stettner at what she does.
Chambers USA 2020, Financial Services Regulation: Nationwide
She is down to earth, practical, and able to explain complex concepts very clearly.
Chambers USA 2020, Financial Services Regulation: Nationwide
