Global professional services firm Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) appointed Christopher Chatfield as managing director within its disputes and investigations (DI) practice. Chatfield will lead A&M’s new broker-dealer investigations and compliance (BDIC) specialization.
Chatfield joins A&M with over 25 years of experience in regulatory investigations, litigation and compliance, alongside his in-depth broker-dealer and consumer banking knowledge. Chatfield’s expertise spans complex regulatory investigations and litigation involving market abuse, insider trading, front-running, and market manipulation. Noted for his track record advising financial institutions on domestic and international regulatory inquiries, he helps clients navigate compliance remediation matters and internal investigations.
“A&M’s Broker-Dealer Investigations and Compliance capability is designed to meet clients’ increasing regulatory and operational challenges,” Jerry Dent, managing director and DI’s practice leader for A&M, said. “True to A&M’s results-driven mindset, and ability to quickly pivot in anticipation of market demand, our BDIC offering enhances our suite of services and reflects our ability to attract top-tier talent within specific segments and industry sectors. Chris’s extensive regulatory risk remediation and governance knowledge aligns with A&M’s mission to solve for our broker-dealer clients’ unique concerns.”
Chatfield and the DI team will focus on assisting clients with issues arising from regulatory inquiries or investigations, whistleblower actions, on internal compliance reviews that involve trading surveillance, insider trading and market manipulation, such as front-running, layering and spoofing. Additionally, they will advise on electronic trading, alternative trading systems, non-financial regulatory reporting, including blue sheet reporting, large option position reporting, order audit trail system reporting and consolidated audit trail reporting as well as retail sales practices and remediation plans.
“The breadth and depth of A&M’s broker-dealer investigations and compliance service line allows us to expertly and promptly assist with investigative work and proactively identify and resolve potential regulatory or compliance issues. The firm’s integrated platform and freedom from audit conflicts are at the cornerstone for mitigating risk as well as maximizing value,” Chatfield said.
Prior to joining A&M, Chatfield was the co-head of the broker-dealer regulatory governance and disputes practice at FTI Consulting. He also served as associate general counsel in the regulatory inquiries group for Bank of America and Merrill Lynch, and as senior counsel in the division of enforcement for the Securities and Exchange Commission. His former regulatory experience also includes earlier roles at the Chicago Board Options Exchange, the American Stock Exchange and NASDAQ.
Chatfield holds a bachelor of arts degree in American history from Rutgers University and a J.D. from Vermont Law School, and he is a member of the New Jersey Bar.
