Jim Burns, Deputy Director of Trading and Markets, to Leave SEC

The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that James R. Burns, Deputy Director in the Division of Trading and Markets, will leave the agency in October.

Since 2012, Mr. Burns has overseen core regulatory functions within the division, including market supervision, analytics and research, derivatives policy and trading practices, and the chief counsel and enforcement liaison offices. 

“During his tenure at the Commission, Jim provided valuable leadership on important rulemaking and policy initiatives.  His unwavering commitment to the investing public and his commitment to promoting strong capital markets served the agency well,” said Chair Mary Jo White.

“Jim played an instrumental role in the Division of Trading and Markets’ work on numerous rulemakings, including adoption of the Volcker Rule and other key provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act,” said Stephen Luparello, Director, Division of Trading and Markets. “He also has led the division’s response to significant market events and the development of key equity and fixed income market analytical and policy initiatives.”

Mr. Burns said, “During a period of unprecedented regulatory change, it has been a tremendous privilege to work with incredibly talented and dedicated professionals throughout the agency who set the highest standards of dedication to the SEC’s mission of protecting investors and strengthening our capital markets.”  

Prior to joining the division, Mr. Burns served under Chairman Mary L. Schapiro as the agency’s Deputy Chief of Staff, where he advised on the development and execution of the SEC’s rulemaking and policy agenda.  He joined Chairman Schapiro’s staff as counsel in 2010, having first come to the SEC as counsel to Commissioner Kathleen Casey in 2008.  In these previous capacities, he worked on investment management and trading and markets regulatory and enforcement matters arising from the financial crisis.  Before joining the SEC, Mr. Burns was a securities lawyer in private practice, focusing on investment management regulatory and enforcement matters.  He previously served as a clerk on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

Mr. Burns received his J.D., cum laude, from Georgetown University Law Center.  He holds masters and doctoral degrees from Oxford University, and graduated with an A.B., magna cum laude, from Harvard College.