BRAEDEN ANDERSON
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Hi, I’m Braeden.
I'm a partner at Gesmer Updegrove LLP, where I lead the Securities Regulatory and Enforcement and Digital Assets practice areas. I’ve served as Assistant General Counsel at Robinhood, practiced at Kirkland & Ellis and Sidley Austin, and represented clients in high-stakes matters before the SEC, DOJ, FINRA, and state regulators.
I write and make content for people who don’t have time to guess: founders, lawyers, regulators, and smart operators who know better than to rely on Google or the AI answer without context.
I've been recognized by U.S. Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® for Financial Services and Securities Regulation, and listed in Marquis Who’s Who in America for contributions to law and public service.
Enjoy the content. I hope you find what you’re looking for. And if you want to talk something through, don’t hesitate to reach out. I’d love to hear from you. It’s really cool when readers become clients.
SEC Chair Paul Atkins Announces Sweeping Cuts and Contract Reviews: What This Means for Market Regulation and Enforcement
In his first major address to the agency, newly appointed SEC Chair Paul Atkins informed staff this week that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has experienced a 15% reduction in workforce, with more changes to come. The remarks, delivered during a town hall at SEC headquarters in Washington, D.C., mark a sharp pivot in tone and direction for the Commission under the Trump administration’s broader government downsizing initiative, led in part by billionaire adviser Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Acting SEC Chair Reshapes the Agency Ahead of Trump’s Pick
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is undergoing a profound transformation as its acting leadership reshapes the agency ahead of the confirmation of President Trump’s nominee, Paul Atkins. These sweeping changes include staffing reductions, leadership shake-ups, and a recalibration of enforcement priorities, raising questions about the future of securities regulation in the United States.