Vinson & Elkins lawyer turned SEC enforcer returns to firm in Dallas

People today exit the headquarters of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Fee (SEC) in Washington, D.C., U.S., May well 12, 2021. Photograph taken May possibly 12, 2021. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly

(Reuters) – Immediately after practically a 10 years at the Securities and Exchange Fee, legal professional Rebecca Fike has rejoined Vinson & Elkins as a associate in Dallas, the company explained Tuesday.

Fike’s practice will concentrate on securities enforcement, federal government and inside investigations and white collar defense, the organization mentioned.

Vinson & Elkins mentioned Fike, who was a organization associate right before moving to the SEC, worked on more than 60 securities-associated investigations in her time with the fee.

She was a Fort Worthy of, Texas-centered senior counsel in the SEC’s division of enforcement.

Fike co-led an SEC investigation that resulted in a $125 million settlement in December with electric car or truck maker Nikola Corp., which was accused of defrauding traders with misleading information and facts about solution enhancement and finances. The SEC stated Nikola did not ensure or deny its findings.

Nikola had long gone community by merging with a particular intent acquisition corporation. SPACs raise funds by preliminary public choices to take private providers public.

Fike explained she foresees SPAC transactions, which boomed in 2021, and captivated regulatory notice, currently being an energetic space for her practice.

Hilary Preston, a Vinson & Elkins vice chair, mentioned the company in 2021 “had an amazing share of the SPAC current market on the corporate facet” as shoppers.

Fike also aided the SEC investigate Houston-dependent oil services company KBR Inc, resulting in what the fee stated was its very first whistleblower defense circumstance against a enterprise for utilizing improperly restrictive language in confidentiality agreements. KBR agreed to shell out $130,000 to settle the situation in 2015, and neither admitted nor denied wrongdoing.

Fike stated she is the to start with SEC alumna to be part of Vinson & Elkins. She will be a member of the firm’s global federal government investigations and white collar legal defense team, as effectively as its shareholder litigation and enforcement staff.

“I was excited about the concept of developing something and developing a little something. To be equipped to go someplace in which I could, from the start out, consider a lead in that follow spot was just tremendously fascinating,” reported Fike.

Vinson & Elkins has additional quite a few former prosecutors and ex DOJ officers to its govt investigations exercise in the latest many years.

In January 2021, it added Zach Terwilliger, a previous U.S. legal professional in Virginia, to its Washington, D.C. office environment.

Examine Much more:

Global IPOs breach all-time record on U.S. SPAC growth, flurry of tech listings

Nikola Corp agrees to pay $125 mln to settle SEC charges of defrauding traders

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