Mary Jo White, who served from April 2013 to January 2017 as chair of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, will return to legal practice at Debevoise and serve as senior Chair of the firm.

She was chair of Debevoise’s Litigation Department from 2002 to 2013, prior to which she served as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York for nearly nine years.

White’s practice will focus on counseling boards of directors and representing clients on significant and sensitive matters, including companies facing crises involving multi-faceted government investigations and cases.

Her arrival follows the announcement that Andrew J. Ceresney will also rejoin Debevoise after serving under White as the Director of the Division of Enforcement at the SEC.

“I am delighted to return once again to Debevoise,” Ms. White said. “The firm has the preeminent white collar practice and many of the finest lawyers and colleagues with whom I have ever worked. I am eager to begin this next chapter of my career and assist clients with their most critical matters.”

“Simply put, Mary Jo is a giant in the legal profession,” said Michael W. Blair, Debevoise’s Presiding Partner. “Few, if any, other lawyers have garnered the respect and admiration that Mary Jo has throughout her distinguished career. Mary Jo’s leadership and accomplishments are truly extraordinary, and her experience and judgment will be a tremendous asset to our clients and the firm.”

From 1983 to 1990, Ms. White was a litigation partner at Debevoise. From 1978 to 1981, she served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of New York, where she became Chief Appellate Attorney of the Criminal Division. Ms. White graduated from William & Mary, Phi Beta Kappa with a B.A. in Psychology, The New School for Social Research with an M.A. in Psychology and Columbia Law School with a J.D., where she was an officer of the Law Review.