Sara Raisner

Sara Raisner

Partner

Sara focuses on regulatory examination and enforcement matters, internal investigations, and securities-related disputes. She regularly represents financial institutions, hedge funds, and public companies before the SEC, FINRA, CFTC, New York Office of Attorney General, DOJ and other regulators.

Sara is a leader in the firm’s SPAC regulatory and litigation practice, following a secondment to a large financial institution during which she worked closely with its senior team on SPACs. Sara also has significant experience advising clients in Mexico, Brazil and Chile and is as a member of the firm’s dedicated Lat-Am team. Sara also serves on the A&O Sheaman Women Council and as a firm’s Recruiting Committee and Women Partners Committee.

Sara previously served as a director with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), where she led a team of enforcement attorneys and investigators on regulatory matters involving securities fraud, suitability, anti-money laundering surveillance, operational failures, and other violations of federal securities laws.

Before joining FINRA, Sara served as an associate at a global law firm where she represented financial institutions in civil litigation, SEC enforcement matters, and internal investigations.

Experience

Representative matters

Regulatory and Investigations

Several global financial institutions in connection with off-platform communications investigations by the SEC and CFTC.

Several financial advisory firms in SPAC-related investigations by the SEC, DOJ and FINRA.

A group of underwriters in an IPO-related investigation by the SEC.

Pro bono

Sara is a member of Abogadas MX, a non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of women in the legal sector in Mexico.

Published Work

Speaking Engagements

  • SIFMA C&L Annual Seminar, 2024

Awards

  • “40 & Under List”, Benchmark Litigation, 2022, 2023

Qualifications

Admissions

New York, 2010

Courts

United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, 2010
United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, 2012
United State District Court for the Eastern District of New York, 2024

Academic

B.A., summa cum laude, City University of New York, Queens College, 2006
– Queens College Presidential Honors Award
– Phi Beta Kappa
J.D., New York University, 2009
– Editorial Managing Editor, Journal of Legislation and Public Policy

Languages

Hebrew, Spanish
Disclaimer
A&O Shearman was formed on May 1, 2024 by the combination of Shearman & Sterling LLP and Allen & Overy LLP and their respective affiliates (the legacy firms). Any matters referred to above may include matters undertaken by one or more of the legacy firms rather than A&O Shearman.