BRAEDEN ANDERSON
Welcome to Anderson Insights!
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'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.
Please enjoy our work. 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.
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Why the Definition of “Small Adviser” Deserves a Second Look
The SEC’s definition of a “small investment adviser” hasn’t kept up with reality, and it shows in how rules are written and analyzed. Firms managing $150–300 million in AUM are still treated like large institutions, even though many are lean, founder-led operations navigating real compliance strain. A proposed shift to a $1 billion threshold is a step in the right direction, but without legislative backing, it may not stick. This piece breaks down why the definition matters, how it shapes regulatory outcomes, and what needs to happen next.