SEC Tenure: 1995-2018. A natural leader, Scott Friestad worked his way up from staff attorney to Deputy Director of Enforcement and a trusted senior advisor to the Director. Along the way, Scott became arguably the most respected, admired and beloved Associate Director in SEC history, championing his own distinctive brand of “tough but fair” SEC enforcement. Scott’s door was always open — he welcomed everyone into his office to talk and would spend hours mentoring anyone who asked. He led some of the Commission’s most important actions and earned its highest honors, always ensuring that fairness and due process guided every decision. Sadly, Scott died from cancer on April 4, 2018.
It was simply impossible not to like Scott Friestad. Respected and admired by all who worked with him—including, significantly, his adversaries in the defense bar—Scott’s integrity, insight, and dedication remain a lasting legacy within the SEC’s Division of Enforcement and across the SEC.