SEC Tenure: 1991-2001. Dick Walker left a successful law practice as a partner at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft to begin his career at the SEC as Regional Director of the SEC’s Northeast Regional Office. He later served as the SEC’s General Counsel and as the Director of Enforcement—the only person in history to hold those two positions. Dick was immensely respected and admired by his SEC colleagues. Beyond his memorable speeches, powerful congressional testimony appearances, and groundbreaking scholarly articles, Dick inspired everyone around him to excel and to appreciate the privilege of working at the SEC. Dick left the SEC to become General Counsel at Deutsche Bank, where he rebuilt the global legal department and went on to become the firm’s Vice Chairman. Dick concluded his career as a partner at King and Spalding.
Dick Walker was not the Michael Jordan of the SEC; rather, Michael Jordan was the Dick Walker of the NBA.