Overview
Walé Oriola is counsel in Faegre Drinker’s investment management practice group. His practice is concentrated on advising investment advisers, investment companies, institutional investors and other financial services firms on federal and state securities laws and regulations. Walé draws on his U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) experience to provide practical guidance on regulatory policy, including rulemaking proposals and implementations, transactional matters, including on the formation, offering and operation of investment products, compliance programs, disclosure, investment adviser formation, fiduciary counsel, examinations and enforcement investigations, and environmental, social and governance (ESG) matters.
Prior to joining Faegre Drinker, Walé served as senior counsel in the SEC’s Division of Investment Management Rulemaking Office, where he managed regulatory policy and rulemaking relating to investment advisers and investment companies. Walé served as member of the rulemaking team that helped develop the investment adviser fiduciary interpretation and IABD rulemaking package, ESG Investment Practices Disclosure rules, and amendments to the Funds Name Rule. He also served as principal staff counsel for the SEC’s Asset Management Advisory Committee (AMAC) Environmental, Social, and Governance Subcommittee, and the Diversity Equity and Inclusion Subcommittee, where he provided technical, governance and subject matter guidance to members of the subcommittees.
Walé started his legal career at FINRA in the Office of Fraud Detection and Market Intelligence, where he conducted investigations of potential violations of securities law and FINRA rules by examining public statements, stock promotional materials and trading data.
Personal Interests
Walé practices the Afro-Brazilian martial art Capoeira – a style that combines elements of dance, acrobatics and music. He is an avid traveler and supports Chelsea Football Club in the Barclays Premier League.
Related Services
Related Industries
Credentials
Bar Admissions
Admitted only in New York; supervision by principals of the firm admitted to the D.C. Bar
New York
Languages
Yoruba
Education
Georgetown University Law Center
Certificate in Securities & Financial Law (2019)
Hofstra University School of Law
J.D. (2013)
CUNY Lehman College
B.A. (2002)
Insights & Events
Latest
Insights
News
Other Perspectives
- "Proposed Climate Disclosure Rules for Public Companies"
Republished in Energy Law Report, September 2022
Leadership & Community
Pro Bono
- Co-chair and Chair of the SEC’s African American Council (2018-21)
Honors
- United States Securities and Exchange Commission — The Chairman’s Award for Serving the Interests of Main Street Investors – Investor Experience Team, 2020
- United States Securities and Exchange Commission — The Chairman’s Award for Excellence – IABD Rulemaking Team, 2019
- United States Securities and Exchange Commission — SEC’s Community Service Award – Educational Outreach Team, 2017
No aspect of these recognitions has been approved by the highest court of any state.