Akerman announced today that Ronak V. Patel has joined the firm's Litigation Practice Group as a partner in Austin. Ronak, a former Deputy Securities Commissioner of Texas, advises broker-dealers, investment advisers, private equity firms, hedge funds, private funds, and public companies in securities investigations, enforcement actions, and complex litigation before the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), FINRA, and state securities regulators across the country.
Prior to joining Akerman, Ronak was a principal and management committee member at his previous firm. He is ranked nationwide by Chambers USA for Financial Services Regulation: Broker-Dealer (Enforcement) and is listed by Best Lawyers in Texas for Commercial Litigation and Criminal Defense: White-Collar.
“Ronak has stood on both sides of the table in the matters that keep financial services clients up at night -- as a senior regulator directing enforcement for one of the most active state securities agencies in the country, and as lead counsel defending firms in high-stakes investigations,” said Lawrence Rochefort, chair of Akerman's Litigation Practice Group. “Clients navigating coordinated, multi-jurisdictional investigations need counsel who understands how regulators think, prioritize, and resolve matters. Ronak brings exactly that, and his arrival strengthens our securities enforcement and financial services litigation capabilities from coast to coast.”
Ronak's private practice is informed by more than a decade with the Texas State Securities Board, where he served as Deputy Securities Commissioner from 2012 to 2016 and previously as director of the agency's Inspections and Compliance Division. As a regulator, he led complex multistate investigations, including a key role in the auction rate securities investigations and global settlement negotiations with major financial institutions that resulted in approximately $50 billion in equitable relief to investors. He also held leadership positions with the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA), where he worked closely with state and federal securities regulators nationwide.
In private practice, Ronak has served as lead counsel in high-profile matters involving allegations of securities fraud, broker misconduct, complex investment products, and breaches of fiduciary duty. He also counsels clients on regulatory examinations, registration requirements and exemptions, private offering exemptions, and emerging regulatory issues involving fintech and cryptocurrency.
“Akerman's national litigation platform and its deep bench serving financial institutions were exactly what I was looking for as my practice continues to grow,” said Ronak. “The firm's collaborative culture and its momentum -- in Texas and across the country -- make this an easy decision, and I'm excited to get to work.”
About Akerman
Founded in 1920, Akerman is an Am Law 100 firm recognized by Vault among the nation’s most prestigious law firms. The firm has more than 700 lawyers and business professionals throughout the United States.