Profile
Daniel Wadley is an experienced trial attorney with over 20 years of litigation experience, including an 11-year tenure at the SEC. His practice focuses on complex commercial litigation; securities litigation; SEC regulatory compliance, investigations, and enforcement actions; auditor liability; financial services regulation and compliance; white collar defense; and corporate internal investigations.
Daniel possesses deep institutional knowledge of SEC policies, practices and procedures. Prior to joining GT, Daniel served as the Director of the SEC’s Salt Lake Regional Office where he oversaw and managed all of the office’s investigations, its federal court litigation, and its administrative proceedings. He was a member of the SEC’s FCPA unit and oversaw multiple investigations into FCPA violations. Before taking on the role of Regional Director, Daniel was trial counsel in the Division of Enforcement and also senior counsel to the Directors of Enforcement in Washington, D.C. In his trial counsel role, Daniel represented the SEC in securities enforcement matters filed throughout the United States in both federal district courts and in SEC administrative actions. As senior counsel to the Directors of Enforcement, Daniel helped shape and oversee Agency enforcement priorities and policy, reviewing all recommended actions and settlements pending before the Commission.
Daniel has led litigation teams in federal and state court actions throughout the country. His experience ranges from complex commercial litigation disputes to highly technical SEC regulatory compliance. He has represented the largest accounting firms in the world, as well as individuals, banks and financial institutions, insurance companies, real estate developers, and public and private companies both large and small. He has unique experience in matters involving regulatory filings; digital currencies; financial statement and accounting fraud; corporate mismanagement and internal controls violations; internal investigations; Foreign Corrupt Practice Act violations; insider trading; Ponzi scheme and offering frauds; and broker-dealer and Investment Adviser fraud.
Concentrations
- SEC examinations, investigations and enforcement actions
- Securities litigation
- Securities/Broker-Dealer arbitration and mediation
- Securities/Broker-Dealer regulatory practice
- Internal investigations
Capabilities
Experience
- Oversaw multiple investigations into wide-scale Anti Money Laundering (AML) violations by international banks, including coordination of matters with the Department of Justice and foreign criminal and regulatory authorities.°
- Oversaw two investigations into alleged FCPA violations by an international investment bank, including the improper hiring of politically connected professionals and the bribing of foreign officials in order to obtain contracts.°
- Oversaw the investigation into alleged FCPA violations by an international telecommunications company, including the use of improper recreational travel funded through a secret account in order to persuade government officials to award contracts.°
- Oversaw the investigation and litigation relating to a fraudulent international scheme involving investments into digital currencies.°
- Led the prosecution of an internet-based Ponzi scheme that defrauded investors of more than $100 million. In that matter, SEC v. Traffic Monsoon, obtained the first Circuit Court opinion affirming the Dodd-Frank amendment to the Supreme Court’s jurisdictional Morrison test.°
- Led the prosecution of a Utah-based retirement plan administrator who defrauded investors in self-directed individual retirement accounts (IRAs) by misappropriating over $24 million.°
- Led the prosecution of two business associates in Chile who allegedly engaged in insider trading on nonpublic information that one of them learned while serving on the board of directors of a pharmaceutical company.°
- Led the prosecution of the former chief financial officer of a computer networking device manufacturer who circumvented internal controls by allegedly diverting company funds to cover unauthorized personal and entertainment expenses.°
- Led the prosecution of a Utah man and company who allegedly operated a real estate-based Ponzi scheme that bilked $100 million from investors nationwide, against whom the agency prevailed at trial.°
- Prepared Wells submissions on behalf of auditor clients regarding alleged violations of the federal securities laws.°
°The above representations were handled by Mr. Wadley prior to his joining Greenberg Traurig, LLP.
- Regional Director, U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission, Utah, 2018-2021
- Counsel to Enforcement Directors, U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C., 2017-2018
- Senior Trial Counsel, Securities & Exchange Commission, 2010-2017
Recognition & Leadership
- Listed, Benchmark Litigation, "Litigation Star," 2023-2025
- Member, American Bar Association
- Member, Utah Bar Association
Credentials
- J.D., cum laude, Georgetown University Law Center, 2000
- B.S., cum laude, Brigham Young University, 1997
- Utah