Luis A. Aguilar

Luis A. Aguilar is a Commissioner at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. He was sworn in on July 31, 2008.  Commissioner Aguilar was appointed by President George W. Bush and was reappointed by President Barack Obama in 2011. Commissioner Aguilar became the eighth longest-serving Commissioner in SEC history, and was one of only three Commissioners to have been nominated by two U.S. Presidents from two different political parties.

Prior to his appointment as an SEC Commissioner, Mr. Aguilar was a partner with the international law firm of McKenna Long & Aldridge, LLP (subsequently merged with Dentons US LLP), specializing in securities law.  During his career, his practice included matters pertaining to general corporate and business law, international transactions, investment companies and investment advisers, securities law, and corporate finance.  He also focused on issues related to corporate governance, public and private offerings (IPOs and secondary offerings), mergers and acquisitions, mutual funds, investment advisers, broker-dealers, and other aspects of federal and state securities laws and regulations.

Commissioner Aguilar's previous experience includes serving as the general counsel, head of compliance, executive vice president, and corporate secretary of Invesco, with responsibility for all legal and compliance matters regarding Invesco Institutional. While at Invesco, he was also managing director for Latin America in the 1990’s, and president of one of Invesco’s broker-dealers.  His career also includes tenure as a partner at several prominent national law firms: Alston & Bird LLP; Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP; and Powell Goldstein Frazer & Murphy LLP (subsequently merged with Bryan Cave LLP).  He began his legal career as an attorney at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Commissioner Aguilar represents the Commission as its liaison to both the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) and to the Council of Securities Regulators of the Americas (COSRA). He has served as the primary sponsor of the SEC's Investor Advisory Committee.

Commissioner Aguilar has received various honors and awards, including:

• Recipient of Honorary Doctor of Public Service, awarded by Georgia Southern University to honor notable achievements in his profession as well as his dedication to public service (May 11, 2013).
• Recipient of the Atlanta Falcons “2012 NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award” (2012).
• Named by Poder.Hispanic Magazine as one of the “100 Most Influential Hispanics in the Nation” (2011).
• Named by Latino Leaders Magazine as one of the “Top 101 Most Influential Latinos in the United States” (2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012).
• Named to the NACD Directorship 100, the Who’s Who of the Boardroom (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015).
• Recipient of The Center for Accounting Ethics, Governance, and the Public Interest “Accounting in the Public Interest Award” (2010).
• Listed in Best Lawyers in America (2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008).
• Named as one of “Georgia’s Super Lawyers,” as published in Atlanta Magazine and Georgia Super Lawyers Magazine (2004, 2005, 2006, and 2008).
• Recipient of the Chief Justice’s Commission on Professionalism of the Supreme Court of Georgia “Justice Robert Benham Award for Community Service” (2007).
• Named by Atlanta Magazine as one of the “Most Influential Foreign-Born Atlantans” (2007).
• Listed on the Who's Who in Law in the Atlanta Business Chronicle (2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007).
• Named by Hispanic Business Magazine as one of the “100 Influential Hispanics in the United States” (2006).
• Recipient of the MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund) "Excellence in Leadership" Award (2005).
• Named by the Hispanic National Bar Association as “Latino Attorney of the Year” (2005)
• Named by the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce as “Member of the Year” (2005) and “Atlanta Hispanic Businessman of the Year” (1994).

He has been active in numerous civic and business associations. From May 2005 to May 2007, he chaired the Latin American Association (LAA), a non-profit organization that has served Georgia's Latino community since 1972 with comprehensive services that foster healthy, self-sufficient individuals, families and communities. The LAA offers employment, immigration, youth, family, housing, and translation services, as well as English and Spanish language classes. In recent years, the LAA has provided services to over 70,000 Hispanics annually.

He has served on various Boards, including the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF), Girl Scouts Council of Northwest Georgia, Inc., Georgia Hispanic Bar Association, United States Fund for UNICEF Southeast Regional Chapter, and CIFAL Atlanta, Inc. He has been very active with national organizations such as the Hispanic National Bar Association. In 2002, Commissioner Aguilar was Co-Chair of its Annual Convention and also served as Regional President (for Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi) from 2002 - 2006, Chair of its Financial Committee from 2003 - 2005, and a member of its Board of Governors since 2002. In addition, he served as the President of the Hispanic National Bar Foundation from September 2006 to July 2008.

He is a graduate of the University of Georgia School of Law, and also received a master of laws degree in taxation from Emory University. Additionally, he has successfully completed Series 7, 24, 63, and 65 examinations in connection with serving as president and a director of a registered broker-dealer. Commissioner Aguilar has also written numerous articles over the years. He is married to Denise T. Aguilar.

Commissioner Aguilar serves as sponsor of the SEC's Hispanic and Latino Opportunity, Leadership, and Advocacy Committee, the African American Council, and the Caribbean American Heritage Committee.