Lynda T. Daniel, Vice President and Counsel, Regulatory Enforcement & Investigations, BNY Mellon

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Lynda T. Daniel is Vice President and Counsel, Regulatory Enforcement and Investigations, at BNY Mellon. Lynda began her career at Kramer Levin as a summer associate in 2009 and joined the Litigation practice in 2010. With a focus on white collar criminal and regulatory defense, Lynda's experience at Kramer Levin included assisting in the defense of two individuals in separate high-profile insider trading criminal trials in New York's Southern District. Lynda also maintained a robust pro bono practice and served on the Women's Initiative Committee.

Lynda T. Daniel Vice President and Counsel, Regulatory Enforcement and Investigations, BNY Mellon

Kramer Levin helped me advance my career by introducing me to a group of people who were, and who continue to be, integral to my development.

How did working at Kramer Levin help advance your career?

Kramer Levin afforded me invaluable litigation experience early in my career and exposed me to a brilliant, interesting and kind group of lawyers who remain mentors, colleagues and friends.

During my first three years at Kramer Levin, I worked on two high-profile white collar criminal trials, from start to finish. Through both of these experiences, I found myself in the unique position to gain hands-on experience on an accelerated timeline notwithstanding my lack of seniority. I witnessed some of the best and brightest litigators on their feet in the courtroom on a daily basis. I conducted fact investigations, drafted witness examinations, and strategized with smart, dedicated and fun lawyers (for months on end!). The most impactful lessons I learned through the trial preparation process—which I rely on daily in my in-house role—are (1) to see the forest for the trees, (2) to think critically and creatively but to move urgently, and (3) to work collaboratively while holding yourself accountable. As I have also learned, these lessons apply across disciplines, institutions and practice areas.   

While Kramer Levin gave me excellent training and experience as a litigator, perhaps more importantly, Kramer Levin helped me advance my career by introducing me to a group of people who were, and who continue to be, integral to my development. My colleagues and mentors from Kramer Levin remain dear friends and confidants. They continue to be my sounding board in many aspects of life, offering advice and support to me as a lawyer and as a working mother.

What types of projects are you working on now?

In my role as an enforcement and investigations attorney for BNY Mellon, I conduct investigations into issues that pose significant regulatory, financial or reputational risk to the company, represent the company in all stages of regulatory investigations and enforcement proceedings, and help oversee the company’s response to government legal processes. My team handles matters on behalf of the entire company, which means that we support all lines of business (from Global Markets and Investment Management to Asset Servicing and Corporate Trust) and interface with state and federal regulators, including the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the New York Department of Financial Services, and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, among others. My daily responsibilities include gathering information via interviews and documents, evaluating risk and providing strategic guidance on both a proactive and reactive basis, escalating concerns to senior management, and working collaboratively with outside counsel to manage and mitigate potential exposure.   

What pro bono/community service work from your time at Kramer Levin had the most impact on you?

One of the reasons I chose to join Kramer Levin was the firm’s commitment to pro bono and to serving others. During my time at Kramer Levin, I was fortunate enough to help secure asylum for two incredible clients, both of whom exhibited truly admirable strength and resiliency in the face of horrible indignities. My first asylum client was a transgender, HIV-positive Central American who had been sexually assaulted and imprisoned in his home country, yet somehow maintained a level of optimism and an overall joie de vivre that was inspiring. My other client was a teenager from Rwanda who had grown up amid intense political strife and whose safety was threatened as a result of his late relatives’ former political activism. By the time he was granted political asylum, he had secured himself a college scholarship. Both clients inspired me with their strength, fortitude and unlikely optimism following years of hardship.