Peter I. Altman
Partner
Areas of Focus
- White Collar Defense & Government Investigations
- Digital Assets, Cryptocurrency & Blockchain
- Securities Enforcement & Litigation
- Disputes & Investigations
- Investment Funds Litigation
- Complex Commercial Litigation
- Class Actions
- Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG)
- Technology
- Litigation Finance
- Fintech
- Global Investment Adviser Regulatory
- Metaverse
- Cloud Computing & Data Storage
- Private Capital
- Represents prominent investment management firms, public & private companies and individuals in highly sensitive white collar & government investigations, investment fund and securities litigation, regulatory examinations and compliance, and internal investigations.
- Significant experience in matters before the SEC, CFTC and DOJ.
- Serves as a leader in Akin’s digital assets, cryptocurrency & blockchain practice, having represented senior executives, traders and companies in some of the largest and most high-profile government investigations of cryptocurrency exchanges and trading platforms.
- Served in the SEC’s Division of Enforcement in Los Angeles and as a member of the division’s Market Abuse Unit.
Peter is a leading name of the white collar bar and a highly regarded litigator. He provides counsel on matters before the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), and other federal and state agencies. Prior to joining Akin, Peter served as senior counsel in the SEC’s Division of Enforcement.
Peter is a go-to lawyer in the investment funds space. He represents clients in enforcement investigations and litigation, including with respect to the federal securities and commodities laws and charges such as alleged insider trading and other forms of market abuse and matters involving the Investment Advisers Act. He also regularly handles private civil litigation in state and federal courts for investment funds and companies.
In the regulatory examination and compliance space, Peter regularly handles all aspects of the exam process, including advising during an exam, assisting with responses to deficiency letters and handling matters that result from referrals from the SEC’s Division of Examinations (EXAMS) to the Division of Enforcement. He also assists clients on a day-to-day basis with respect to a wide range of compliance and risk management issues related to topics such as books and records compliance, securities trading and the investment research process.
Peter is also a leader in the firm’s digital assets, cryptocurrency & blockchain group. He represents senior executives, traders and other companies in complex, multilayered investigations, including in high-profile government investigations of digital asset exchanges and trading platforms, decentralized finance (DeFi), and other digital assets such as smart contracts and non-fungible tokens (NFTs).
Peter is ranked by Chambers USA, with clients noting that he “skillfully negotiates thorny issues,” that he is “always a step ahead, thinking about what needs to be done” and that “client service is his strength.” As noted by Chambers, Peter is “one of the most talented attorneys in California in the securities enforcement and white collar space. He is smart, thoughtful, responsive and can deliver difficult messages with poise and authority.”
A recognized thought leader, Peter is a frequent speaker at key industry conferences and contributor to articles covering the issues that are top of mind for investment funds and companies.
Further, Peter is active on several Akin leadership committees, including as a member of the firm’s Partnership Admissions Committee.
Asset Manager Representations
- Represented a registered investment adviser that specializes in private credit transactions. The client was identified as a principal victim of fraudulent conduct by a borrower. Through a carefully executed strategy of engagement and cooperation with the SEC and DOJ, Akin successfully kept the client’s name out of the government’s charging papers. Our team also worked on a restructuring of the borrower’s company that led to a successful credit bid purchase of the collateral pledged by the borrower in the loan documentation.
- Represented a registered investment adviser in connection with an SEC investigation regarding alleged failure to disclose certain conflicts of interest related to the firm’s sponsorships and investments in several special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs). After making several presentations to the SEC, the Akin team reached a favorable settlement that was limited to negligence-based violations of the Investment Advisers Act.
- Defended a registered investment adviser in an investigation by the SEC and a related criminal investigation in the Southern District of New York (SDNY) concerning insider trading allegations. No charges were filed against the client and the client was not named in public action taken by the government against a former employee of the adviser.
- In a securities class action alleging control-person liability against a global investment firm, served as architect of the defense strategy and oversaw the execution of all aspects of litigation, including court arguments, depositions, briefings and negotiations. Achieved a huge victory, securing a highly favorable settlement funded wholly by insurance money.
- Defended a multinational registered investment adviser in an investigation by the SEC into possible violations of Rule 105 of Regulation M, the SEC regulation to deter manipulative shorting related to public stock offerings and obtained a closing letter from the Division of Enforcement within 90 days of the initial document request.
“Peter is one of the most talented attorneys in California in the securities enforcement and white-collar space. He is smart, thoughtful, responsive and can deliver difficult messages with poise and authority.”
Chambers USA, 2024
EducationJ.D., Brooklyn Law School, cum laude, 2005
B.A., University of Michigan, with honors, 2001
J.D., Brooklyn Law School, cum laude, 2005
B.A., University of Michigan, with honors, 2001
ClerkshipsU.S.D.C., Southern District of New York
U.S.D.C., Southern District of New York
Bar AdmissionsCalifornia
New Jersey
New York
California
New Jersey
New York
- Securities Docket, Enforcement Elite, 2024.
- Chambers USA, Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations, 2024.
- The Legal 500 US, Corporate Investigations and White-Collar Criminal Defense: Advice to Corporates / Advice to Individuals, 2024.
- Daily Journal, Top White Collar Lawyers, 2021 and 2023.
- SEC Enforcement Director Award, for distinction in investigating enforcement matters.
- Pro Bono Counsel of the Year for Akin’s New York Office.
- Panelist, “Financial Firms in the SEC’s Crosshairs—Key Developments for Asset Managers, Broker-Dealers, Private Funds and Hedge Funds,” Securities Enforcement Forum West, May 23, 2024.
- Co-author, Chapter 9: SEC Enforcement—Legal Considerations, Federal Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Matthew Bender.
- Panelist, “Financial Firms in the SEC’s Crosshairs—Key Developments for Asset Managers, Broker-Dealers, Private Funds and Hedge Funds,” Securities Enforcement Forum West, May 23, 2023.
- Panelist, “Electronic Communications Sweep: How Large and Small Investment Advisers Can Respond,” DFW Financial Services Counsel Roundtable, Dallas, February 23, 2023.
- Panelist, “Moving On-chain: Unwinding the Complexity of Crypto,” AICPA’s Forensic & Valuation Services Conference, Nov 14, 2022.
- Panelist, “Crypto, Digital Assets and Cyber Priorities,” Los Angeles County Bar Association’s 54th Annual Securities Regulation Seminar, October 21, 2022.
- Panelist, “Cryptocurrency Regulation, Enforcement and Litigation,” Securities Enforcement Forum West 2022, May 12, 2022.
- Moderator, “Financial Firm Spotlight – Enforcement and Regulatory Developments for Asset Managers, Broker-Dealers, Hedge Funds and More,” Securities Enforcement West 2021, May 13, 2021.
- Moderator, “What’s Next on the Regulatory and Enforcement Agenda,” Managed Funds Association West 2021, April 7, 2021.
- Co-panelist, “Navigating the Regulatory Intersection of Data Procurement, Web Scraping, MNPI and Insider Trading Compliance,” MFA DATA, September 16, 2020.
- Co-panelist, “Material Non-Public Information During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Insider Trading Risks to Avoid,” Akin Webinar, May 14, 2020.
- Co-panelist, “The SEC’s Focus on Cybersecurity – Disclosure, Enforcement and Key Guidance for 2020,” Securities Enforcement West, May 12, 2020.
- Moderator, “What’s Next on the Regulatory and Enforcement Agenda,” Managed Funds Association West, February 25, 2020.
- Co-panelist, “Financial Firm Spotlight – Enforcement and Regulatory Developments for Asset Managers, Broker-Dealers, Hedge Funds and More,” Securities Enforcement West, May 9, 2019.
- Co-panelist, “SEC Examinations: Perspectives from CCOs Who Went Through Exams During the Past Year – The Best 45 Minutes You Can Spend Preparing For Your Own Exam,” Akin Investment Funds Symposium, April 30, 2019.
- Co-panelist, “What’s Next on the Regulatory and Enforcement Agenda,” Managed Funds Association West, February 28, 2019.
- Co-panelist, “What Should Crypto Funds Expect From The SEC Going Forward?,” Securities Docket Webcasts, December 3, 2018.
- Co-panelist, “CCO Liability: How to Protect Yourself,” Fall 2018 ACA Group Compliance Conference, October 4, 2018.
- Co-panelist, “Annual Update on Regulatory Developments and Enforcements: U.S. and U.K.,” Akin Annual New York Private Investment Funds Conference, September 27, 2018.
- Co-panelist, “Financial Firm Spotlight—Enforcement and Regulatory Developments for Asset Managers, Broker-Dealers, Hedge Funds and More,” Securities Enforcement Forum West, May 10, 2018.
- Moderator, “Managing #MeToo Every Day—Mitigating and Protecting Against the Significant Risks of Workplace Misbehavior,” Akin Investment Funds Symposium, May 3, 2018.
- Co-panelist, “Today’s Hottest Compliance Issues—Straight Talk So You Don’t Get Burned,” IA Compliance: The Full 360° View West, November 2, 2017.
- Co-panelist, “Using Data Scraping in the Investment Research Process,” Fall 2017 ACA Group Conference, October 25, 2017.
- Moderator, “Compliance and Enforcement Priorities for the SEC in the Trump Administration,” Akin and FTI Consulting’s Investment Funds Symposium, June 8, 2017.