The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law's Securities Law Program, under the leadership of Program Director and Adjunct Law Professor Jack W. Murphy, held its 39th Annual Securities Law Luncheon on Tuesday, February 21—returning to The Army and Navy Club in downtown Washington, D.C.. The group of current securities students, securities law graduates, and several members of the securities adjunct faculty, along with Murphy and guest speaker Eric J. Pan, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Investment Company Institute, mingled together in the welcoming hall.
As everyone settled into their seats, Dean Stephen C. Payne stepped up to the podium to make a few opening remarks. Payne recognized Professor David Lipton's role in building the foundation of the Securities Law Program, and then introduced and thanked Murphy for continuing to grow and build the program. Following the introduction, Murphy made a few remarks, expressing a deep sense of gratitude for the support of SLP's alumni and discussing the State of the Securities Law Program, including efforts underway to enhance the program and attract additional participants from the student body. Murphy then introduced Eric Pan, who spoke to the group on the subject of "What does Securities Regulation Mean Today?".
As the luncheon drew to a close, Murphy returned to the podium to recognize two students who were selected as this year’s Securities Scholarship recipients. Murphy shared that both students were selected not only for their academic achievements but also for their commitment and enthusiasm for the Securities Law Program and the field of securities law. The recipients were third-year students Tyler Buchholz and Thomas Archer.
(L to R) Tyler Buchholz, Jack Murphy, and Thomas Archer
Eric J. Pan is the president and chief executive officer of the Investment Company Institute. He took office as the 10th chief executive in ICI’s history on November 9, 2020. Pan was previously a managing director of Rock Creek Global Advisors LLC, an international economic policy advisory firm in Washington, D.C., and a senior research fellow at the Center for Law and Economic Studies at Columbia Law School in New York.
Pan served as the director of the Office of International Affairs at the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission from 2015 to 2019 and head of international regulatory policy at the US Securities and Exchange Commission from 2011 to 2015. He represented both market regulators in international standard-setting bodies, including the International Organization of Securities Commissions and Financial Stability Board, and in regulatory dialogues with European and Asian counterparts. Before entering government service, Pan was the director of the Heyman Center on Corporate Governance and a professor at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in New York, where he wrote extensively about financial regulation and corporate law. He also practiced corporate and international law with Covington & Burling in Washington, D.C.
Pan is a graduate of Harvard College, the University of Edinburgh, and the Harvard Law School. He is a member of the American Law Institute and an adjunct professor at Columbia Law School.