Amelia A. Cottrell is a partner in the Litigation Department and Co-Chair of the Securities Enforcement Practice Group. Amelia has significant experience representing entities and individuals in regulatory enforcement and white collar matters. Drawing on her experience from the decade she spent at the Securities and Exchange Commission, Amelia focuses on representing public companies, private entities, and individuals in connection with SEC and other government inquiries, investigations, and actions. In addition, Amelia counsels clients on compliance matters including ensuring conformance with SEC regulations.
Immediately prior to joining Willkie in 2015, Amelia served as Associate Director of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s New York Regional Office. As one of the top enforcement officials at the SEC’s New York office, Amelia oversaw and managed SEC investigations and enforcement actions and was responsible for directing the New York Regional Office’s enforcement program. She had oversight responsibility for approximately half of the New York office’s investigations and litigations, supervising a large team of attorneys, investigators, accountants and paralegals.
Amelia's articles include:
- “Don’t Call It a Comeback: The SEC’s Continued Pursuit of ‘Broken Windows,’” The Investment Lawyer (April 2019) (with Benjamin Haskin)
- “Context Makes a Difference: SEC Loses Controversial Case,” The Review of Securities & Commodities Regulation (June 2016) (with Mary Eaton, Elizabeth Gray, Benjamin Haskin, James Anderson and Juliet Mun)
- “Will the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Proposed Changes to Administrative Proceedings Quiet Critics?” The Investment Lawyer (December 2015) (with William Stellmach, Elizabeth Gray and Katherine Hanniford)
- "SEC Attempts To Address Due Process Concerns," Law360 (September 2015) (with Elizabeth Gray)
Amelia's speaking engagements include:
- “White Collar Litigation Trends,” New York City Bar Securities Litigation & Enforcement Institute
- “SEC Enforcement – Do Alternative Asset Managers have their Act together?” Duff & Phelps New York Alternative Investments Conference
- “Hot Topics in SEC Enforcement: The SEC Gets Tougher - Inside the Wells Process,” New York City Bar
- “Regulatory Enforcement Trends,” International Conference on Private Investment Funds (London, U.K.)
- “Career Moves: Strategies and Pathways” New York City Bar