Conte will join the firm’s Washington D.C. office in September. While at the SEC, Conte played a lead role in several SEC enforcement actions, including its cases against Morgan Stanley, J.P. Morgan and Robertson Stephens Inc. involving unlawful IPO allocation practices, and accounting violations of Dell Inc.
“Chris’s extensive experience and deep commitment to investor protection made him a strong force in the effort to hold accountable those who violate the securities laws,” said Robert Khuzami, director of the SEC’s Division of Enforcement. “After a long and fruitful career at the SEC we wish Chris the very best.”
Conte joined the SEC as a staff attorney in 1992 and rose to the rank of associate director in October 2006.
At Steptoe & Johnson, Conte will serve in firm’s securities practice. He will represent companies and executives facing investigation by the SEC and other regulators, the law firm said in a statement.