Richard Farley, a Wall Street lawyer known for his work in leveraged finance, is reportedly under consideration to lead the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in the upcoming Trump administration.
Farley, a partner at the New York law firm Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel, has experience representing major financial institutions, including Goldman Sachs, Credit Suisse, and UBS, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Richard Farley’s Background and Connections
Richard Farley has earned his place in Wall Street mainly due to his expertise and experience in financing related activities especially those involving banks and other financial institutions. He is also the co-head of the Kramer Levin’s Leveraged Finance Group where he has advised on a number of matters relating to private credit firms.
In 2017 Farley acted for Cantor Fitzgerald in a share sale of Sorrento Therapeutics. Cantor’s CEO, Howard Lutnick is a key member of Trump’s transition team for personnel and can therefore help Farley’s chances of being appointed as chairperson of SEC.
Not only does Richard Farley have a successful career, he also has personal relationships within the Republican party. His wife, Chivacci “Chele” Farley has been the GOP finance chairman for New York City and has also vied for political office as a republican. Farley, who used to be enrolled in the Democratic Party, has apparently endorsed GOP in recent years. He is also a longtime friend of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a Trump supporter who recently announced his interest in serving in the new administration’s cabinet.
Donald Trump’s Priorities for the US SEC Under New Leadership
The current US SEC Chair Gary Gensler is apparently among the officials that the Trump team wants to get rid of. Gensler, who has come under fire from some in the financial industry, has one and a half years remaining in his term, which is currently scheduled to conclude in June 2026.
However, Trump’s team has already signalled that they intend to appoint a new chair at the beginning of the new administration. Chris Iacovella, the Chief Executive Officer of the American Securities Association, has announced that Gensler’s exit from the Securities and Exchange Commission would improve the confidence in the same organization among the retirees, small business persons, and the working class.
The Trump team has apparently considered reshaping the SEC to return to its core mission that is consumer protection. This will be a change from Gensler’s style, which has been criticized by some as aggressive, particularly with regard to virtual currency regulation.
Farley’s Views and Possible Direction on Cryptocurrency
Richard Farley has not publicly commented on his views regarding cryptocurrency regulation, but the Trump transition team has indicated a preference for an SEC chair who is “pro-crypto.”
Republican SEC Commissioner Mark Uyeda, who could serve as acting chair until a permanent replacement is appointed, has expressed the need to end what he described as the SEC’s “war on crypto.” Uyeda suggested that enforcement actions against firms solely for failing to register, without allegations of fraud, should be paused until clearer regulatory guidelines are established.
NEW: I asked a person close to the Trump transition team about some of the names being floated for @SECGov chair and whether views on #crypto would factor into the decision.
The response: “I promise you it will be someone pro-crypto.”
— Eleanor Terrett (@EleanorTerrett) November 8, 2024
Uyeda stated that “the Commission’s war on crypto must end,” adding that the next SEC chair under Trump would likely prioritize creating a more defined regulatory framework for digital assets.
Alongside Richard Farley, other names being considered for the US SEC chair position include Dan Gallagher, Robinhood’s Chief Legal Officer and a former SEC commissioner; Chris Giancarlo, former chair of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and known as “CryptoDad” for his favorable stance on digital assets; and current SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce.
Gallagher’s candidacy has been supported by some in the crypto community, who view him as favorable to the industry’s growth and regulatory clarity.
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