Nellie R. Dunderdale
Associate
Nellie Dunderdale helps solve regulatory and compliance issues for banking and financial services clients, including those operating in the fintech ecosystem looking to bring their products and services to market. To help clients navigate their unique challenges, Nellie applies a regulatory perspective gained while serving with a federally authorized self-regulatory organization tasked with providing industry oversight while promoting innovation.
She further draws on her knowledge of federal securities laws, as well as independent agency rules, to help companies develop novel financial products and platforms with respect to cryptocurrency and blockchain. Her experience in this space includes advising broker-dealers, investment advisers, alternative trading systems, private funds, and others working towards registering in these capacities.
Prior to joining DWT, Nellie served at the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) as an attorney in the Department of Enforcement, where she resolved matters on behalf of FINRA, enforcing the applicable securities rules, negotiating settlements, and advocating FINRA's position. She also worked on FINRA examinations and investigations, reviewing for violations of federal securities laws and FINRA rules and regulations, investigating potentially manipulative activity in the securities markets, and presenting findings to FINRA's Department of Enforcement and the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Admitted to Practice
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Pennsylvania, 2016
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District of Columbia, 2022
Education
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J.D., University of Pittsburgh School of Law, 2015
- Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Law and Commerce
- Public Interest Scholar
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B.A., Foreign Affairs and Anthropology, University of Virginia, 2009
Professional Recognition
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- Named "One to Watch" by Best Lawyers in Banking and Finance Law, 2024-2025
- Named to "Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll" by the D.C. Court of Appeals and the D.C. Superior Court, 2023 (High Honors)
Background
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- Associate, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Washington, D.C., 2021-2022
- Counsel, 2020-2021; Senior Attorney, 2018-2020 — Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Rockville, M.D.
- Senior Analyst, 2017-2018; Analyst, 2015-2017 — Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Rockville, M.D.
- Summer Associate, Neighborhood Legal Services, Pittsburgh, 2014
- Interdepartmental Program Associate, 2010-2011; Communications and Task Force Intern, 2009 — The Council on Foreign Relations, Washington, D.C.