News that Michael Dicke was joining Fenwick & West as a partner was the subject of a feature article in Law360.
Dicke is currently serving as the SEC’s associate regional director for enforcement in San Francisco. In his new role at Fenwick, he will co-chair the firm’s securities enforcement group and advise companies on SEC compliance and defense. Dicke will also represent clients in actions brought by the SEC.
In a statement, Dicke said, “Over the years of working on matters across the table from Fenwick … I look forward to joining the firm and continuing its momentum in representing companies and individuals in a wide range of SEC-related matters, an opportunity that is enhanced by the recent explosion of newly public and emerging technology companies.”
Dicke added that “the stock market and the IPO market have been extremely busy the last couple years, and that creates a lot of opportunities to be able to work with emerging companies on compliance issues, advise boards about SEC regulations, on where the SEC may be heading, and help companies navigate those regulations and have good compliance procedures.”
Noting the increasing SEC focus in recent years on regulated entities like hedge and venture capital funds, Dicke said that there are a “tremendous” number of Bay Area financial entities involved in these deals that could “benefit from seasoned SEC representation and counseling.”
Dicke sees that changing regulatory focus as an opportunity for Fenwick to expand its practice, especially given that many of the emerging technology firms the regulated entities are investing in are already Fenwick clients.
Dicke spent 17 years at the SEC, working his way up from a staff attorney to his current position, which he’s held for five years.
“We are thrilled to welcome Mike,” Rodger Cole, chair of Fenwick’s litigation group, said in a statement. “He will be a valuable addition to our securities litigation team, and his arrival is well-timed. Adding to our securities enforcement team will help us address the dramatic uptick we are seeing in SEC and audit committee investigations, whistleblower complaints and SEC examinations of regulated entities.”
The full article is available through the Law360 website (subscription required).