Trump Team Considers Teresa Goody Guillén for New SEC Chair

Key Points:

• Trump’s team is considering Teresa Goody Guillén, a blockchain-focused lawyer, for SEC chairman, aiming to reform the agency with a pro-crypto leader.
• The decision process is reportedly moving quickly, with a shortlist including prominent legal and financial figures and a selection expected before Thanksgiving.

The Trump administration is considering Teresa Goody Guillén, a partner at Baker Hostetler and co-head of its blockchain team, as the next chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, according to sources cited by CoinDesk.

Read more: Former SEC Chair Appointed to New Critical Role, Not Head of SEC 

Trump Team Eyes Teresa Goody Guillén for SEC Leadership

Teresa Goody Guillén has a history as a seasoned securities attorney employed by the SEC and is known for representing blockchain companies and traditional firms in regulatory matters. The inclusion befits former President Donald Trump’s push to appoint a pro-cryptocurrency reformer to lead the regulator.

The selection process for the chair of the SEC seems to be going ahead briskly, and insiders said a decision could come before Thanksgiving at a much faster pace than when Trump had two appointments in his first term.

Reports also show that Trump’s campaign, which was bolstered by more than $130 million in cryptocurrency industry contributions, has opened the door for crypto advocates to lobby in his selection process.

Gensler’s Exit Expected Amid SEC Leadership Shift

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong is reportedly having private meetings with Trump to discuss key appointments. At the same time, SEC Chair Gary Gensler, who has started referring to the position in the past tense, is expected to resign before a potential Trump inauguration on January 20. A tradition has been that SEC chairs resign during administration transitions, but Trump promised to fire Gensler effective immediately upon assuming office.

Goody Guillén is competing with the likes of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP partner Robert Stebbins, Paul Hastings partner Brad Bondi, former SEC Commissioner Paul Atkins, Robinhood’s chief legal officer Dan Gallagher, and former acting Comptroller of the Currency Brian Brooks on the shortlist.