Jenner & Block has expanded its Financial Litigation Practice with the addition of Harris Kay, a leading financial services practitioner with over 25 years of experience representing financial services firms and individuals in a wide range of registration, compliance, regulatory, and litigation matters.
Specializing in derivatives market litigation and regulatory counseling, Harris assists members of the securities and derivatives industries in navigating the complex statutory and regulatory framework in which these businesses operate.
“We are delighted to welcome Harris to Jenner & Block’s Chicago office,” said Co-Managing Partners Katya Jestin and Randy Mehrberg. “He is an established leader in his field and will greatly expand our capabilities to support our clients as they navigate financial litigation and regulatory issues.”
Harris advises propriety trading firm clients regarding regulatory and exchange rule compliance and myriad day-to-day formation and operational issues. He also represents futures and derivatives industry clients in regulatory inquiries, investigations, and enforcement proceedings before the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), National Futures Association (NFA), and various exchanges.
“Harris will be an asset to Jenner. His experience and knowledge of the commodities and trading market as well as experience in regulatory counseling matters will be of significant value to our clients,” said Vincent Lazar, Co-Chair of the Markets and Trading Practice.
Harris’s experience serving on the board of directors of a Chicago-based manufacturing company for over a decade has provided him with a unique perspective on the corporate governance, operational, and strategic issues that businesses and their leadership teams often face.
Additionally, Harris will contribute to the firm’s Fintech and Crypto Assets Practice, particularly if pending legislation is enacted to make the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the CFTC the primary regulators of crypto markets.
“Jenner & Block’s strong track record serving clients across the financial services sector and its reputation as a litigation powerhouse make it an ideal place to grow my practice,” said Harris. “I look forward to leveraging my experience to offer clients advice and counsel on regulatory matters, registration issues, and internal investigations, as well as in litigation and enforcement actions, and more.”
Harris has held various leadership positions throughout his career. Most recently, he was the Partner in Charge of the Chicago office of an AmLaw 100 firm. He obtained his JD from the University of Richmond School of Law.