May 4, 2021
New York, NY (May 4, 2021) --- Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP today announced the addition of Margo A. Bailey, former Associate Chief Counsel in the Market Participants Division of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and Special Counsel to CFTC Commissioner Brian Quintenz. She joins the Firm as counsel in the Corporate and Financial Services Department, and will focus her practice on commodities and derivatives regulation and transactions. She is rejoining former private practice colleagues in Willkie’s Energy Commodities Group and will be based in the firm’s Washington, DC office.
“Margo is a very sharp and knowledgeable attorney who will enhance our commodities and derivatives work with valuable insight from her government roles at the CFTC and OCC, and strong private practice experience,” said senior counsel Paul J. Pantano, Jr. “Our clients are navigating increasing regulatory and transactional complexities in the commodities and derivatives markets, and her experience will enhance our capabilities in these critically important areas.”
J. Christopher Giancarlo, senior counsel at Willkie and former Chairman of the CFTC, commented: “In working closely with Margo during my time at the CFTC, I was impressed by her intelligence, judgment and comprehensive knowledge of the agency’s rules and regulations. I am delighted to welcome her to Willkie.”
At the CFTC, Ms. Bailey held several leadership roles in various divisions, most recently leading a team of lawyers to advise senior leadership in the Market Participants Division, which oversees derivatives market intermediaries, on policy and legal matters involving Commission rulemakings, guidance and staff action. As Special Counsel in the Office of Commissioner Quintenz, she advised on policy and legal matters related to OTC derivatives and futures markets, worked collaboratively with CFTC division heads and external stakeholders on key policy decisions, served as lead counsel advancing SEC-CFTC harmonization efforts and drafted keynote speeches and public statements on agency policy. Ms. Bailey also previously served as Special Counsel, Division of Swap Dealer and Intermediary Oversight (now known as the Market Participants Division), where she assessed swap dealers’ compliance with the Commodity Exchange Act and CFTC regulations.
In addition to her CFTC experience, Ms. Bailey served as Counsel in the Securities and Corporate Practices Division of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). She began her career as an associate in the energy and commodities practice of an international law firm.
“I am impressed by Willkie’s collaborative approach and deep bench of talent, which includes many talented former CFTC and other senior government officials,” said Ms. Bailey. “I look forward to working with my new and former colleagues to help clients stay ahead of regulatory changes in the commodities and derivatives markets that affect their business.”
Willkie’s market-leading capabilities in energy and commodities matters are bolstered by an interdisciplinary team of regulatory, M&A, litigation, fund formation, finance and restructuring attorneys with in-depth knowledge of and deep experience in the sector. Willkie’s Energy Commodities team represents energy companies, utilities, swap dealers, commodity traders, financial institutions, agribusinesses, industry associations, development-stage ventures, private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies, and others in a wide range of commodity and derivatives transactional, regulatory and enforcement defense matters. Our team includes former officials from CFTC, FERC, DOJ and SEC, among others who are knowledgeable in all legal aspects of futures, options on futures and swaps.
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Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP is an international law firm of approximately 850 attorneys with offices in New York, Washington, Houston, Palo Alto, San Francisco, Chicago, Paris, London, Frankfurt, Brussels, Milan and Rome. The Firm is headquartered in New York City at 787 Seventh Avenue.
Tel: 212.728.8000.