O’Melveny Welcomes Esteemed Broker-Dealer Regulatory Partners James R. Burns and Brant K. Brown
June 22, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WASHINGTON, DC—June 22, 2026—O’Melveny announced today that a duo of internationally renowned financial services regulatory advisers—James R. Burns and Brant K. Brown—have joined the firm as partners in the Washington, DC office. Their arrival strengthens O’Melveny’s regulatory, compliance, and enforcement offerings for financial services clients.
Burns and Brown, who have worked together and in parallel for more than 20 years, have built one of the market’s highest-profile trading and markets practices, advising a wide array of the world’s major broker-dealers, exchanges, clearing agencies, private fund investment advisers, and other market participants. They come to O’Melveny from the Washington, DC office of Cleary Gottlieb, where they practiced together in that firm’s Financial Institutions Group. Their deep experience also includes distinguished tenures of service in senior leadership roles at the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for Burns and at the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) for Brown.
“Continuing to expand our offerings for our financial services clients—including those in the banking, private capital, and asset management sectors—is a key priority for our firm, and we are delighted to welcome Jim and Brant to the team,” said O’Melveny chair Bradley J. Butwin. “Jim and Brant are renowned not only for their market-leading broker-dealer practice, but also for their impressive SEC and FINRA credentials, which are crucial in this highly regulated area. Their extensive experience at the highest levels, combined with their tireless commitment to their clients, makes them a perfect fit for O’Melveny. It is a pleasure to welcome them aboard.”
“Joining O’Melveny was the optimal decision for us and a natural fit,” said Burns. “We were impressed by the firm’s holistic, broad-based platform, which will immediately benefit our clients. And O’Melveny’s emphasis on teamwork and cross-practice integration aligns with our own approach. We’re excited to make this move and to call O’Melveny our professional ‘home’ for years to come.”
“We were also drawn to O’Melveny’s reputation for distinctive client service, and to its genuinely collaborative culture,” added Brown. “The firm is committed to excellence in every regard, and we’re excited to work alongside our talented new colleagues, and together, help our clients achieve their goals.”
The addition of Burns and Brown accelerates O’Melveny’s continued strategic growth, with 53 lateral partners joining the firm since 2023—including 34 corporate partners.
About the Partners
James R. Burns is ranked among the nation’s premier broker-dealer compliance lawyers by Chambers USA. He focuses his practice on counseling broker-dealers, exchanges, clearing agencies, alternative trading systems (ATSs), hedge funds, and private equity clients, as well as other SEC-registered entities and their boards, on regulatory, compliance, and enforcement matters. He brings more than 25 years of experience to O’Melveny, including six years of service at the US Securities and Exchange Commission—initially as investment management and enforcement counsel to SEC commissioner Kathleen Casey; then as counsel and deputy chief of staff to SEC chair Mary Schapiro; and finally as deputy director of the SEC’s Division of Trading and Markets. For his exemplary service, Burns was awarded the SEC’s Law and Policy Award and the Chairman’s Award of Excellence.
Burns earned his J.D. cum laude from Georgetown University Law Center. He earned his D.Phil. and M.Phil. from the University of Oxford, and his B.A. magna cum laude from Harvard College.
Brant K. Brown advises broker-dealers, exchanges, clearing agencies, asset managers, and other financial institutions on compliance with federal securities laws and self-regulatory organization rules, including during examinations, investigations, and enforcement matters. His legal career has spanned more than 25 years, including serving for more than 13 years in the Office of General Counsel—with more than a decade as an associate general counsel—at FINRA, a self-regulatory organization under SEC oversight that is responsible for protecting investors, overseeing broker-dealers, and safeguarding the integrity of capital markets. While at FINRA, Brown was honored with the Chairman’s Award for his significant contributions to the organization’s mission. And Chambers USA has ranked him among the leading broker-dealer compliance lawyers in the US.
Brown earned his J.D. from Vanderbilt Law School, where he was a managing editor of the Vanderbilt Law Review, and his B.A. magna cum laude from Vanderbilt University.
About O’Melveny
It’s more than what you do: it’s how you do it. Across sectors and borders, in board rooms and courtrooms, we measure our success by yours. And in our interactions, we commit to making your O’Melveny experience as satisfying as the outcomes we help you achieve. Our greatest accomplishment is ensuring that you never have to choose between premier lawyering and exceptional service. So, tell us. What do you want to achieve? Visit us at www.omm.com; learn more in our firm at-a-glance; and find us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Contact:
Brandon Jacobsen
O’Melveny & Myers LLP
+1 213 430 8024
bjacobsen@omm.com
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