Jonathan advises clients on commodity, derivatives, and digital asset regulation and in government investigations and enforcement matters before the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). He also litigates private suits involving the derivatives and commodities markets in federal district and appellate courts. He is a member of the firm’s Crypto and Digital Assets Group.
Jonathan previously served as general counsel of the CFTC from 2013 to 2017, advising the commission on a wide range of issues, including digital asset regulation and rulemakings and other actions to implement the Dodd-Frank Act and Commodity Exchange Act.
Before his appointment as general counsel, Jonathan was the CFTC’s deputy general counsel for litigation from 2011 to 2013. In that position, he successfully defended the CFTC’s Dodd-Frank rules against numerous challenges under the Administrative Procedure Act.
Jonathan also served at the U.S. Department of Justice as an assistant to the solicitor general from 2004 to 2007, where he argued and won five cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, including criminal, tax, and First Amendment matters. He began his government service as an appellate attorney in the Criminal Division from 1998 to 2004, briefing and arguing numerous cases before the Federal Courts of Appeals.
Jonathan has more than a decade of experience as a litigator in private practice at other major law firms, bringing a valuable blend of experience advising on compliance, litigation and regulatory enforcement matters.
