SPEAKERS

Jay Clayton’s current activities involve the intersection of corporate governance, regulation, government affairs and market developments. As Senior Policy Advisor at Sullivan & Cromwell, he advises various organizations on how to navigate these issues. Jay also is the Independent Chair of Apollo Global Management, a Director of American Express, an Adjunct Professor at the University of Pennsylvania, and Co-Chair of Penn’s Institute for Law and Economics.  He also shares his views publicly through broadcast and print media.

Jay Clayton served as the Chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission from May 2017 to December 2020.  

During Mr. Clayton’s tenure, the SEC focused on modernizing the regulation and oversight of U.S. equity (circa $50 trillion) and fixed income markets (circa $50 trillion), concentrating on the interests of long-term investors. Under his leadership, the SEC updated and improved dozens of rules and regulations, increasing both efficiency and investor protection. Mr. Clayton oversaw an investor-focused and impactful enforcement program, involving over 2,800 actions, resulting in $15 billion in financial remedies and over $3.5 billion returned to harmed investors.

The SEC also addressed various market developments and emerging risks, including the COVID-19 economic shock, the Brexit and LIBOR transitions, and various cybersecurity matters. Mr. Clayton testified before Congress on numerous occasions and was an active participant in the Financial Stability Board and other multilateral organizations.  

Prior to Mr. Clayton’s tenure at the SEC, he was a member of Sullivan & Cromwell’s management committee.  He was a lead lawyer in an array of notable matters, including representing various financial institutions during the 2008 global financial crisis and the underwriters in the world’s largest initial public offering.

Mr. Clayton earned a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from the University of Pennsylvania, a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degree in economics from The University of Cambridge and a Juris Doctor degree from The University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School.

‍