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Experience:
Adriaen Morse has represented clients in joint investigations and actions by US and European Union securities regulators and criminal authorities investigating potential civil and criminal violations of the securities laws and regulations of the US and EU member states. Adriaen's practice focuses on representing financial services firms, accounting firms, public companies, and individuals in investigations and litigation before the US Securities and Exchange Commission, FINRA (formerly NASD and NYSE Enforcement), PCAOB, and other federal and state securities industry regulators. He also represents clients in civil litigation, arbitration, and criminal matters involving the securities laws.
Adriaen joined Mayer Brown in 2005. He is a former Senior Counsel with the SEC's Division of Enforcement in Washington, DC. Earlier in his career, following his graduation from the US Naval Academy, Adriaen served for ten years in the US Marine Corps, first as an infantry officer and then as a judge advocate. His fluency in French has proved helpful in international cases.
Notable Engagements:
Represented the former Chairman of the Royal Dutch/Shell Group's Committee of Managing Directors in an investigation by the US Department of Justice and joint investigations by the US Securities and Exchange Commission and UK Financial Services Authority and related private securities class action litigation. We were able to achieve total vindication for our client, receiving notices from the SEC that it was terminating its investigation and would not bring an enforcement action and the FSA that it was discontinuing its investigation without an action against our client.
Represented the assistant general counsel of a regional broker-dealer in an NASD investigation into sales practices involving variable annuities. The investigation ended with no action against our client.
Represented the former director of compliance of the broker-dealer subsidiary of a financial services firm in an NASD investigation involving late trading and market timing. The investigation ended with no action taken against our client.
While on the Staff of the SEC's Division of Enforcement, investigated and brought the following cases:
A financial fraud case, in collaboration with the CFTC, against the CFO of a Fortune 500 company involving the concealment in company financial statements of major trading losses in treasury futures transactions.
An injunctive action and assistance to the SDNY in parallel criminal proceedings against firms and individuals engaged in fraudulent offerings of fictitious IPO shares.
A cease and desist proceeding against a Fortune 500 company and its Big 4 auditor for books and records and independence violations for failing to write off the costs sunk into a failed software system that had been developed for the company by the auditor's consulting arm in violation of GAAP requirements.
An investigation into the financial fraud that led to the collapse of WorldCom.
Education:
Georgetown University Law Center, LLM, with distinction, Securities and Financial Regulation, 2003, University of Richmond School of Law, JD, cum laude, 1995; Manuscripts Editor, University of Richmond Law Review, United States Naval Academy, BS, with merit, 1988. | 