Mary Jo White returns to Debevoise

Mary Jo White, the former head of the US Securities and Exchange Commission, is to return to global law firm Debevoise & Plimpton as senior chairwoman.

White’s practice will focus on counselling clients facing government investigations and cases.

Prior to joining the SEC, White was chairwoman of Debevoise’s litigation department. She served as the US attorney for the Southern District of New York for nearly nine years before joining the firm.

She joins her former SEC colleague Andrew Ceresney, who served as director of the Division of Enforcement during her tenure. His return to Debevoise was announced in January.

White’s departure from the SEC was succeeded by a series of resignations from the regulator, including the Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations director Mark Wyatt, head of clearance Wenchi Hu and chief operating officer Jeffery Heslop.