WASHINGTON — Bond Dealers of America has hired Richard Y. Roberts, former Securities and Exchange Commission member and chief of staff to Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., to lobby for it on Dodd-Frank Act implementation and other securities-related legislative and regulatory issues.
Roberts is currently a principal at Roberts Raheb & Gradler LLC, a lobbying firm he co-founded in February 2006.
“We’re delighted to retain Rick to help us advocate for our members on the important issues facing policymakers as they implement and carry out the mandates of Dodd-Frank,” said Mike Nicholas, the BDA’s chief executive officer. “Rick brings a wealth of experience in finance and in Washington to this role, which will be extremely beneficial for our members.”
Roberts was nominated to the SEC by President George H. W. Bush in 1990 and served as commissioner from Oct. 1, 1990, to July 15, 1995. He played a key role on municipal securities issues and promoted market reforms along with Arthur Levitt, who served as SEC chairman from 1993 to 2001.
Before joining the SEC, Roberts was chief of staff to Shelby, now ranking minority member of the Senate Banking Committee, from 1987 to 1990. Roberts also has a good relationship with another Republican from Alabama, Rep. Spencer Bachus, chairman of the House Financial Services Committee.
Roberts was a partner at Thelen, Reid & Priest from 1997 through early 2006 when he co-founded his current firm. During that time, he served on several advisory boards or committees of NASD, now the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.
He is a member of the District of Columbia and Alabama bars. He received a master’s of laws from the George Washington University, a law degree from the University of Alabama School of Law, and a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Auburn University.
