Sidley Welcomes Former CFTC Enforcement Chief Ian McGinley to Its New York Office.
Sidley is expanding its powerhouse regulatory team with the addition of Ian McGinley, who brings an exceptional track record in securities enforcement and white-collar defense. McGinley, the former Director of Enforcement at the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), has joined the firm as a partner in its Regulatory and Enforcement group based in New York.
At Sidley, Mr. McGinley will advise clients facing regulatory scrutiny or government investigations—particularly in complex matters involving commodities, securities, and digital assets. He also brings sharp insight into white-collar criminal defense, drawing on more than a decade of public service at the highest levels of financial enforcement.
Before joining Sidley, Mr. McGinley servedas Director of Enforcement at the CFTC, where he led a nationwide team of attorneys, economists, analysts, and technologists. In that role, he spearheaded high-impact cases ranging from insider trading to carbon markets and played a key role in advancing the agency’s approach to cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and other emerging technologies. He also oversaw a strategic reorganization of the division to enhance its ability to detect and address misconduct.
Earlier in his career, he spent over a decade as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of New York (SDNY), holding senior positions in both the Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit and the Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force.
Mr. McGinley’s work ranged from prosecuting cryptocurrency fraud and FCPA violations to cases involving terrorism and sanctions evasion. Along the way, he earned national recognition—including the Attorney General’s Distinguished Service Award and the Federal Prosecutor of the Year honor from the Federal Law Enforcement Foundation.
Ian McGinley has also spent time in private practice and began his legal career as a clerk for Judge Gene E.K. Pratter in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
“Ian is a rare find—one of the few former CFTC enforcement directors now advising clients in private practice,” said Yvette Ostolaza, Chair of Sidley’s Management Committee. “He brings deep experience across commodities, crypto, futures, and swaps, and will be a strong strategic partner for clients navigating today’s fast-moving regulatory environment.”
“He’s highly respected across the DOJ, SEC, CFTC, and other key agencies,” added Stephen Cohen, who leads Sidley’s Global Regulatory and Enforcement practice. “Ian is a natural fit for our team and a huge asset for our clients in New York and around the world.”
Sidley’s Securities Enforcement and Regulatory group is known for guiding clients through some of the most sensitive and high-stakes issues in the global capital markets. The team advises leading financial firms, public companies, executives, and investment managers in investigations, regulatory exams, internal reviews, and compliance matters.
Sidley Austin LLP is a leading global law firm with over 2,300 lawyers across 21 offices worldwide. Founded in 1866, Sidley advises clients on complex transactional, regulatory, and litigation matters. The firm serves top companies, financial institutions, and government entities, with a strong commitment to integrity, innovation, and inclusion. Known for its collaborative culture and global reach, Sidley also dedicates over 150,000 hours annually to pro bono work, making a meaningful impact in communities around the world.
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