Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP, a national law firm with offices in New York, Los Angeles and Miami, announced today that Jake Loftus has joined the Financial Services Litigation group as Of Counsel, effective immediately.  Mr. Loftus will reside in the firm’s Los Angeles office.

Mr. Loftus has worked in the financial services industry for the past 25 years as a litigator, senior management professional and general counsel.  Most recently, he served as General Counsel and Chief Administrative Officer for CITIC Securities International Partners, Ltd., a China-focused, cross-border financial services firm.  He managed all firm operations and offered advice on mergers and acquisitions and related corporate finance matters.  Before that, Mr. Loftus served as Senior Managing Director and Branch Manager for the Los Angeles office of Bear Stearns (now JP Morgan).  He managed an office with more than 200 people.

Prior to Bear Stearns, Mr. Loftus spent 16 years as a litigator with a prominent West Coast law firm where he represented a wide range of financial services clients including investment banks, broker-dealers, directors, officers and senior employees in litigation, arbitration and regulatory matters.

“Jake brings extensive experience to Stroock in financial services litigation,” said Julia Strickland, a Partner in the Class Action/Financial Services Practice Group and member of the firm’s Executive Committee.  “His experience for many years as a Managing Director at Bear Stearns and at CITIC Securities International Partners is especially valuable.  He knows the industry inside and out, and possesses knowledge from the client side of financial services, in addition to his legal expertise.”

“I am excited by my return to a litigation and regulatory practice with a firm so well regarded in the financial services industry,” said Loftus.  “I look forward to working with my new colleagues to add to Stroock’s robust financial services litigation and regulatory practice.”

Mr. Loftus has appeared as a panelist at the Securities Industry Association’s (now SIFMA) annual Legal & Compliance Seminar and has made presentations to securities brokerage firms on supervision, risk management and best practices.   He has been involved as lead counsel in scores of state and federal court filings, class actions, arbitrations and regulatory matters and he has regularly consulted clients in the financial services community on employment issues.  He received his undergraduate degree from Saint Michael’s College and J.D., magna cum laude, from Whittier Law School.

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