Matthew Martens Named Chief Litigation Counsel in SEC Division of Enforcement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
2010-139

Washington, D.C., Aug. 2, 2010 — The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that Matthew T. Martens has been appointed Chief Litigation Counsel of the Division of Enforcement, where he will oversee the litigation program as conducted by attorneys in the Washington headquarters trial unit and coordinate the activities of trial attorneys across the enforcement program in the 11 regional offices.

Mr. Martens has worked as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Western District of North Carolina since 2003, most recently serving as Deputy Criminal Chief where he supervised prosecutors in the white-collar crime unit. As Corporate & Securities Fraud Coordinator in that office for the past six years, Mr. Martens started their securities fraud practice and built it to include cases and investigations involving insider trading, accounting fraud, stock options backdating, fraudulent private placements, Ponzi schemes, pump-and-dump schemes, boiler room operations, naked short selling, and embezzlement.

"Matt is a highly accomplished lawyer and litigator who throughout his career has earned accolades from his colleagues and adversaries alike," said Robert Khuzami, Director of the SEC's Division of Enforcement. "Adding Matt's considerable talent to the skill and dedication of the existing SEC trial attorneys will ensure that investor interests are pursued vigorously in litigation and at trial."

Mr. Martens said, "I am honored to join the Enforcement Division at this historic time for the Commission. Over the course of my time in the U.S. Attorney's Office, I have had the privilege of working with many of the dedicated members of the SEC enforcement staff across the country, and I look forward to joining such a talented team as we pursue the critical mission of investor protection."

In the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Western District of North Carolina, Mr. Martens tried 14 jury trials involving charges of securities fraud, mortgage fraud, money laundering, tax fraud, perjury, vote buying, fraudulent firearms sales, gun possession, bank robbery, drug trafficking, and murder.

Prior to working for the U.S. Attorney's Office, Mr. Martens was Chief of Staff to Assistant Attorney General Michael Chertoff in the Criminal Division at the U.S. Department of Justice. Earlier, he was a Litigation Associate at Latham & Watkins LLP.

Mr. Martens is filling the Chief Litigation Counsel position previously held by Luis Mejia, who left the agency for the private sector.

Mr. Martens served as a law clerk to then-Chief Justice William Rehnquist of the Supreme Court of the United States. He also clerked for Judge David Sentelle of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

Mr. Martens received his JD with highest honors (valedictorian) from the University of North Carolina School of Law and his undergraduate degree in accounting with highest honors from Cedarville College.

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