Fred Knecht is a partner in the firm's New York office and a member of the securities and capital markets practice group. He represents both issuers and underwriters in a full range of capital markets transactions, including IPOs and other equity offerings, public debt financings, Rule 144A offerings and private placements. He also counsels issuers, investment banks, broker-dealers and other entities in complex regulatory matters arising under federal and state securities laws and SRO rules. Mr. Knecht is known for his expertise in advising investment banks and other financial services companies on questions related to corporate governance, risk governance, compliance and business policies. He practices before regulatory organizations including the SEC, FINRA, the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ. Mr. Knecht’s practice also includes a substantial international component, including cross-border capital markets and other transactions and the application of US and non-US securities regulations to entities operating in multiple jurisdictions. Prior to joining Covington & Burling, Mr. Knecht had nearly 20 years of in-house experience at leading investment banks, most recently as Managing Director and General Counsel for Global Origination and Private Equity at Merrill Lynch, a position he held from 2006 to 2009. Prior to joining Merrill Lynch, Mr. Knecht was with Goldman Sachs for 16 years, including as Managing Director and, from 1999 to 2006, Head of Investment Banking Legal for the Americas. In these capacities, Mr. Knecht led the legal coverage of investment banking, capital markets and private equity transactions in the US and Canada, Europe, Asia and Latin America. Mr. Knecht has been a leading voice on issues affecting the securities industry, corporate issuers and other participants in the capital markets, including as a member of various SIFMA and New York City Bar Association committees and task forces and as a frequent writer and speaker on securities law and corporate governance topics. PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE Merrill Lynch & Co., Managing Director and General Counsel for Global Origination and Private Equity (2006-2009) Goldman, Sachs & Co., various positions, including Managing Director and Head of Investment Banking Legal for the Americas (1990-2006) United States Information Agency, Special Assistant to the Associate Director (1982-1983) Central Intelligence Agency, Soviet Affairs Division (1982) MEMBERSHIPS AND AFFILIATIONS Capital Markets Committee of the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) (2000-2009) SIFMA Task Force on Auditor Due Diligence (2005-2009) Securities Regulation Committee of the New York City Bar Association (2008-2009; 2012-present) Financial Reporting Committee of the New York City Bar Association (2006-2008) President, Board of Trustees, The City and Country School, New York, New York (2006-present) PUBLICATIONS AND SPEECHES "The IPO Climate: In the Wake of Facebook, Are IPOs Really Broken?," Wall Street Lawyer (8/1/2012), Co-Author "The JOBS Act: New Rules for Emerging Growth Companies, Private Placements and "Crowdfunding"," Covington Advisory (4/2/2012), Co-Author "The Long Arm of the Law," International Financial Law Review (April 2012), Co-Author