Damon Taaffe

About Damon Taaffe

I am a curious and tenacious advocate, adviser, and problem solver skilled in complex, high-stakes civil litigation and government enforcement. I thrive in cases presenting daunting questions of first impression, and I am comfortable with factual complexity. My recent matters have centered on emerging technologies and novel trading products – indeed, Bloomberg’s Money Stuff column by Matt Levine has featured three of them. My versatility and drive to succeed achieve results: I have won multiple awards as lead counsel, investigator, trial attorney, and appellate advocate for three federal enforcement agencies, often against the best-resourced companies and firms in the country. I also have extensive defensive litigation experience, both in the private sector and with the United States Attorney’s Office.Finally, I take pride in my leadership, service, and collegiality. I have regularly led cross-functional teams of 10-20 attorneys, stakeholders, and subject matter experts to investigate and litigate cases. I have lectured regularly at the DOJ’s National Advocacy Center to help newer attorneys succeed. And most importantly, I am a committed teammate and selfless colleague.

Experience

1. Trial Attorney, Trial Unit, Division of Enforcement

   U.S. Securities And Exchange Commission

   Nov 2022 — Present · Washington, DC, US

   Lead cross-functional teams comprising 8-20 attorneys, market analysts, accountants, expert witnesses, and stakeholders from offices across the SEC in complex district court litigation concerning violations of federal securities laws and regulations. Lead counsel against cybersecurity company offering Ethereum-based token designed to leverage blockchain attributes to provide mobile device encryption. Led cross-functional SEC team and outside experts to analyze company’s software ecosystem. Deposed multiple witnesses, briefed and argued summary judgment, and won $3 million judgment. Led enforcement effort against the country’s largest market-maker, whose deficient trade tracking system caused millions of violations of short-selling regulations. Achieved $7 million settlement. Lead counsel in a high-profile case against country’s second-largest market-maker, whose data access control system exposed sensitive customer trade execution data to potential misuse. Drafted complaint; briefed and successfully defeated motion to dismiss; and currently leading discovery and expert analysis. Lead counsel against former CEO of publicly traded beverage company who made misleading statements intended to inflate the company’s stock price. Interviewed and deposed witnesses, issued subpoenas, and worked with economics expert to analyze materiality.

Education

• Swarthmore College

  Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Economics and Political Science

  1995 — 1999

• University of Chicago Law School

  Doctor of Law (J.D.)

  1999 — 2002

Skills

• Appeals
• Legal Writing
• Litigation
• White Collar Criminal Defense
• Courts
• Trials
• Criminal Law
• Legal Research
• Trial Practice
• Westlaw
• Administrative Law
• Commercial Litigation
• Civil Litigation