Smith Becomes Senior Advisor to Donohue at SEC

Thomas R. Smith, Jr., a leading mutual fund attorney, has joined the Securities and Exchange Commission’s division of investment management as senior advisor to Director Andrew J. Donohue.

Smith comes to the SEC from Sidley Austin, where he was a partner. He was previously with Brown & Wood, beginning in 1996, until its merger with Sidley Austin in 2001. From 2001 to 2003, he was Sidley’s vice chairman. Smith began his legal career at Brown & Wood in 1963, becoming a partner in 1971.

Throughout his career, Smith has focused on representing mutual funds and other investment companies. For 15 years, he was co-chair of the subcommittee on investment companies and investment advisers of the federal regulation of securities committee of the second on business law of the American Bar Association.

“Tom Smith is a senior statesman of the federal securities bar with significant experience in the Investment Company and Investment Advisers Acts of 1940,” Donohue said. “I have tremendous respect for Tom’s intellect, tenacity and desire to serve America’s investors by sharing his extensive knowledge and understanding of the federal securities laws.”

Smith added: “As a private practitioner, I have long admired the mission and work of the Securities and Exchange Commission. I am pleased that I now have an opportunity to join in that mission and asset with the important investor-oriented initiatives underway in the division of investment management.”