Rebecca Leon Returns to Holland & Knight to Co-Lead Broker-Dealer Regulation and Compliance Team Alongside Jennifer Connors and Gabriel Benincasa
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (June 1, 2023) – Rebecca Leon, who was a partner with Holland & Knight from 2016 to 2020, has returned to the firm to co-lead its Broker-Dealer Regulation and Compliance Team. Ms. Leon is an experienced broker-dealer and investment adviser regulatory attorney who counsels clients on global regulatory and compliance matters. She will split her time between the West Palm Beach and Miami offices.
Ms. Leon was previously a partner with Baker McKenzie and co-lead of its North America Broker-Dealer Regulation Team. She rejoins Jennifer Connors, who also returned to the firm in New York from Baker McKenzie in January. Ms. Leon and Ms. Connors plan to expand Holland & Knight's broker-dealer, investment adviser and financial technology (FinTech) regulatory practices together with Gabriel Benincasa, who joined Holland & Knight in 2021 after serving as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) chief risk officer.
Ms. Leon has extensive experience in advising financial services clients in structuring their cross-border and in-country programs worldwide. She also counsels domestic and foreign clients on U.S. federal and state securities laws and the rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). In the past, Ms. Leon served as a staff attorney in the Enforcement Division of the SEC's New York regional office.
"With Rebecca's return to the firm, we now have a formidable and multifaceted team in place to advise broker-dealers and investment advisers on a host of regulatory issues," said Jose Sirven, leader of Holland & Knight's Business Section. "Rebecca, Jennifer and Gabe's combined experience includes working for major private companies in-house, working for the SEC and advising clients as outside counsel. These vantage points and well-rounded experience will serve the investment community well around the world."
"The timing couldn't be better for me to rejoin Holland & Knight," said Ms. Leon. "The firm has amassed significant talent over the past few years that will enhance our services to both retail and institutional brokerage firms, investment advisers and those in the FinTech industry. Together, with my colleagues, we can provide a holistic approach to help clients manage U.S. and foreign regulatory and compliance risks."
Ms. Leon earned a J.D. degree from Brooklyn Law School and MBA and B.A. degrees from Case Western Reserve University. She is admitted to practice law in New York and Florida.