Lance Jasper, a senior counsel at the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), is set to join the Los Angeles team of international law firm, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, bolstering its white collar defense and government investigations practice.
Bloomberg Law reported that Jasper was instrumental in heading the SEC investigation into the $650 million Ponzi scheme executed by Hollywood actor Zachary Horwitz. Following his tenure at the SEC, he’s joining Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld as a partner.
Speaking about the move, Jasper stated that he was thrilled to be joining Akin, recognizing it as a prominent law firm with an excellent white collar practice.
Prior to joining SEC in 2013, Lance Jasper was working for Munger Tolles & Olson. In his capacity as a senior counsel in the SEC’s division of enforcement, he executed a Foreign Corrupt Practices Act investigation against Brazilian state-owned energy company Petróleo Brasileiro SA, or Petrobras. The subsequent investigation resulted in a $1.8 billion settlement – one of the highest ever secured by the SEC.
He also made headlines for his investigation into Horwitz, who used his production company, 1inMM Capital, to dupe investors into funding fake film deals with HBO and Netflix, collecting at least $650 million. Horwitz was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2022 after admissions of guilt.
Commenting on Jasper’s appointment, Akin chair Kim Koopersmith stated that the firm was lucky to possess a top-tier white collar practice during one of the most heightened periods of government regulation and enforcement. According to Koopersmith, the addition of a lawyer of Jasper’s caliber to their team is in line with the firm’s strategy.
This news closely follows Akin’s earlier addition of Sidley Austin partner James Munsell to its investment management practice in New York.