Haimavathi V. Marlier

Haima Marlier is co-chair of Morrison Foerster’s Securities Litigation, Enforcement, and White Collar Defense Group. Drawing on her experience as a former Securities and Exchange Commission Senior Trial Counsel, Haima represents public and private companies, financial services providers, and individuals in SEC and other government investigations, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) investigations, and internal investigations, as well as in related litigation. She has extensive experience litigating in federal, state, and administrative courts, leading complex negotiations, and representing her clients in mediation. She also routinely counsels clients regarding, and is a speaker on, SEC enforcement developments, trends, and enforcement risk mitigation.

Haima joined the firm after nine years at the SEC’s New York office, which bears responsibility for regulating the largest concentration of SEC-registered financial institutions in the nation. While at the SEC, Haima served as lead counsel on a number of prominent enforcement litigations and investigations involving public companies, registered investment advisers, broker-dealers, banks, and individuals in matters arising under the federal securities laws. She has also worked closely with foreign securities regulators, numerous U.S. Attorney’s Offices, and FINRA.

Haima serves on the Board of Trustees of the SEC Historical Society, a non-profit dedicated to preserving the knowledge and history of financial regulation; mentors Penn State students of color who aspire to become lawyers; and volunteers as a running coach for Girls on the Run, a non-profit dedicated to inspiring girls to recognize their inner physical and emotional strength. She also maintains an active pro bono practice.

In 2021, Legal 500 US named Haima a recommended lawyer in “Corporate Investigations and White Collar Criminal Defense.” While at the SEC, Haima was honored with the SEC Division of Enforcement Director’s Award in 2011, 2012, 2017, and 2018. She was also the New York Regional Office nominee for the SEC’s Manual F. Cohen Award in 2014.

Haima received her J.D. from Boston College Law School and her B.A. from The Pennsylvania State University.

Haima’s notable private and public sector experience includes:

• Representing a private investment fund in a COVID-19 related SEC insider trading investigation.
• Representing a private investor in an SEC investigation related to a reverse merger involving a cryptocurrency company.
• Representing an audit committee of a public company in an internal investigation resulting from a whistleblower complaint alleging accounting and disclosure issues.
• Representing a former executive of a Nasdaq-traded, post-SPAC company in a special committee investigation.
• Representing numerous public companies in an SEC cybersecurity enforcement sweep.
• Advising numerous public companies on the efficacy of their cybersecurity disclosure controls and procedures and the materiality of cybersecurity incidents.
• Representing a broker-dealer in a for-cause FINRA examination into anti-money laundering and other issues.
• Representing a leading international company in government investigation into pharmaceutical drug pricing.
• Representing a venture capital fund in a securities class action concerning an unregistered digital token offering.
• Representing a biotech company in a state securities investigation concerning securities registration exemptions and representations to investors regarding securities registration.
• Defending a pre-IPO biotech company in a wrongful termination lawsuit brought by a co-founder and former CEO terminated by the board of directors.
• Representing the SEC in all stages of federal and administrative proceedings, including at trial and on appeal, in matters involving violations of the federal securities laws, including:
  • Matter of Anthony et al., SEC File No. 3-15514: Won bench trial against seven brokers and a supervisor charged with fraud and registration violations in connection with a $100+ million Ponzi scheme.
  • SEC v. Bronson et al., 17-2096 (2d Cir.): Successfully litigated a complex microcap matter to affirmation by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit of summary judgment order imposing over $12 million in civil penalties and disgorgement.
  • SEC v. Laidlaw Energy Group, Inc. et al., 13-cv-3837 (S.D.N.Y.): Secured a favorable final judgment against an issuer and CEO for insider trading, material misrepresentations in SEC filings, and Section 5 registration violations.