On October 30, Securities Docket named George Kostolampros and Dan Hayes among the 2025 Enforcement Elite. Enforcement Elite recognizes the top securities enforcement defense counsel in the industry. Specifically, the list honors professionals who not only have the right stuff to handle bet-the-company matters but are also the kind of defensive specialists critical to have on speed-dial should the SEC’s Division of Enforcement come calling.
George Kostolampros advises and represents clients in investigations and litigation brought by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the Department of Justice (DOJ), U.S. Attorney’s Offices, Financial Industry Regulation Authority (FINRA), state AGs, and other government agencies and self-regulatory bodies at the federal and state levels. George handles matters relating to securities enforcement defense, internal investigations, and anti-corruption issues. George represented clients in an SEC litigation that resulted in a Court of Appeals vacating the underlying SEC administrative proceeding in the matter and ultimately the SEC agreeing to dismiss claims against the individual respondents.
Dan Hayes, a former supervisory trial counsel at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), is an experienced trial attorney who represents clients in government enforcement actions and investigations, internal corporate investigations, securities class actions, and other complex business disputes. Dan has more than 25 years of experience prosecuting and defending complex financial and commercial disputes, including more than 10 trials and arbitration hearings. Dan was with the SEC from 2010 to 2023. During his tenure, he led the prosecution of a wide variety of SEC enforcement actions in U.S. district courts and SEC administrative proceedings throughout the country.
Click here to learn more about the Enforcement Elite recognition.