In May 2012, James R. ("Jim") Burns become a Deputy Director in the SEC's Division of Trading and Markets, where he now oversees several core regulatory functions, including market oversight and operations, derivatives policy and trading practices, and chief counsel and enforcement liaison offices. In addition to focusing on market supervisory issues, he contributes to the Division's ongoing implementation of key provisions of the Dodd-Frank and JOBS Acts.
Before joining the Division, Burns was a member of Chairman Mary Schapiro's staff, most recently serving as the agency's Deputy Chief of Staff, where he advised on the development and execution of the agency's rulemaking and policy agenda as well as other agency initiatives. He also served as counsel to Chairman Schapiro on issues involving the Division, including the agency's May 6, 2010 Flash Crash analysis and response, and other market structure and Dodd-Frank related rulemakings, studies, and programs.
Prior to joining the Chairman's staff, Burns was a counsel to Commissioner Kathleen Casey. Before joining the SEC, Burns was a securities lawyer at WilmerHale, having previously served as a law clerk to Judge William B. Traxler on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Prior to law school, he was Dean of Oriel College, Oxford University.
Burns received his JD, cum laude, from Georgetown University Law Center. He holds masters and doctoral degrees from Oxford University, and graduated with an AB, magna cum laude, from Harvard College.