The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that Shamoil T. Shipchandler has been named Regional Director of its Fort Worth Regional Office.  He will join the agency in early October.

Mr. Shipchandler is presently a partner in the law offices of Bracewell & Guiliani LLP in Dallas, where he has focused on white collar criminal defense, internal investigations and compliance, and related civil litigation in matters involving cybersecurity, public corruption, insider trading, and other statutory and regulatory matters.  Before joining Bracewell, Mr. Shipchandler spent almost 10 years in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas, where he held positions of increasing authority ending as Deputy Criminal Chief.  He has significant experience conducting and supervising investigations of securities violations as well as extensive trial experience from his time at the U.S. Attorney’s Office.  He is the recipient of the Department of Justice’s Director’s Award and the Department of Homeland Security’s Silver Medal.

“Shamoil possesses a keen intellect, strong management skills, and was known as a tough but fair prosecutor during his time in government,” said Andrew J. Ceresney, Director of the SEC’s Division of Enforcement.  “He has a clear vision for the Fort Worth Regional Office that will build upon that office’s incredibly strong performance in protecting investors.”

Marc Wyatt, Acting Director of the SEC’s National Exam Program, added, “Shamoil’s experience at building diverse coalitions and investigating and prosecuting complex matters will bolster our examination program.  He will be a strong leader and advocate for our experienced exam team in Fort Worth.”

Mr. Shipchandler said, “I am honored and humbled by the opportunity to join the Fort Worth Regional Office.  I have the utmost respect for the tremendous dedication, talent, and accomplishments of the lawyers, accountants, and examiners in the office.  And I look forward to working with each of them to protect investors and maintain a fair market.”

Mr. Shipchandler will oversee the Fort Worth office’s enforcement and examination activities in Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas as well as the office’s enforcement activities in Kansas.  Mr. Shipchandler succeeds David Woodcock, who departed the SEC in June.

Mr. Shipchandler earned his bachelor’s degree from Middlebury College in 1996 and a law degree from Cornell Law School in 2000.  He served as a law clerk for the Honorable Roger B. Andewelt of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims in Washington D.C.  Before joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Mr. Shipchandler was an associate with Covington & Burling LLP in Washington D.C.