The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) recently announced that William Hinman will serve as its new director of the Division of Corporation Finance.
Hinman is a recently retired partner in the Silicon Valley office of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, where he advised public and private companies in corporate finance matters. He has counseled a wide range of issuers and underwriters in capital-raising transactions and corporate acquisitions, including in the technology,
e-commerce, health care, and biopharmaceutical areas.
“Bill is widely recognized for his judgment and expertise in corporate finance. He also is a proven leader, mentor, and counselor. I know the SEC and the people it serves will benefit greatly from his valuable experience,” SEC Chairman Jay Clayton said. “He has spent the last 37 years working in our public and private markets, and he understands the SEC’s mission to promote capital formation while ensuring that investors have the information necessary to make informed decisions.”
Prior to joining Simpson Thacher as a partner in 2000, Hinman was the managing partner of Shearman & Sterling’s San Francisco and Menlo Park offices. He received his B.A. from Michigan State University with honors in 1977 and his J.D. in 1980 from Cornell University Law School, where he was a member of the Editorial Board of the Cornell Law Review.
“I am greatly honored to have the opportunity to serve this agency and the American people who rely on its work. I have worked closely with the dedicated and talented staff of the Division of Corporation Finance throughout my career in private practice, and it will be a privilege to work with them to advance the SEC’s mission,” Hinman said.