Peter Altman

• Represents prominent investment management firms, public & private companies and individuals in highly sensitive white collar & government investigations, investment fund and securities litigation, regulatory examinations and compliance, and internal investigations.
• Significant experience in matters before the SEC, CFTC and DOJ.
• Serves as a leader in Akin’s digital assets, cryptocurrency & blockchain practice, having represented senior executives, traders and companies in some of the largest and most high-profile government investigations of cryptocurrency exchanges and trading platforms.
• Served in the SEC’s Division of Enforcement in Los Angeles and as a member of the division’s Market Abuse Unit.

Peter is a leading name of the white collar bar and a highly regarded litigator. He provides counsel on a wide variety of matters before the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), and other federal and state agencies. Prior to joining Akin, Peter served as senior counsel in the SEC’s Division of Enforcement.

Peter is a go-to lawyer in the investment funds space. He represents clients in enforcement investigations and litigation, including with respect to the federal securities and commodities laws and charges such as alleged insider trading and other forms of market abuse and matters involving the Investment Advisers Act. He also regularly handles private civil litigation in state and federal courts for investment funds and companies.

In the regulatory examination and compliance space, Peter regularly handles all aspects of the exam process, including advising during an exam, assisting with responses to deficiency letters and handling matters that result from referrals from the SEC’s Division of Examinations (EXAMS) to the Division of Enforcement. He also assists clients on a day-to-day basis with respect to a wide range of compliance and risk management issues related to topics such as books and records compliance, securities trading and the investment research process.

Peter is also a leader in the firm’s digital assets, cryptocurrency & blockchain group. He represents senior executives, traders and other companies in complex, multilayered investigations, including in high-profile government investigations of digital asset exchanges and trading platforms, decentralized finance (DeFi), and other digital assets such as smart contracts and non-fungible tokens (NFTs).

Peter is ranked by Chambers USA, with clients noting that he “skillfully negotiates thorny issues,” that he is “always a step ahead, thinking about what needs to be done” and that “client service is his strength.” As noted by Chambers, Peter is “one of the most talented attorneys in California in the securities enforcement and white collar space. He is smart, thoughtful, responsive and can deliver difficult messages with poise and authority.”

A recognized thought leader, Peter is a frequent speaker at key industry conferences and contributor to articles covering the issues that are top of mind for investment funds and companies.

Further, Peter is active on several Akin leadership committees, including as a member of the firm’s Partnership Admissions Committee.