WASHINGTON - The Securities and Exchange Commission's Office of Municipal Securities hired two new attorney fellows, the chief of that office confirmed this week.
Carlos Encinas joined the OMS in December and Hillary Phelps came aboard in February. The two new lawyers will aid the office in providing muni expertise to the commission as well as coordinating with other divisions of the SEC when activities like enforcement matters involve the muni market.
Encinas came to the muni office from Chicago, where he was assistant corporation counsel to the city for more than five years. He holds a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Illinois and a law degree from the John Marshall Law School in Chicago.
Phelps came to the commission from the law firm of Chapman and Cutler, also in Chicago. She holds her undergraduate degree in political science and economics from Colgate University in New York, and her law degree from the Loyola University Chicago School of Law.
Muni office chief Jessica Kane, who was promoted to the post last month, praised both of the new additions for the skills and perspectives they bring to the office.
"Hillary and Carlos are terrific new additions to our staff," Kane said. "Hillary brings a valuable perspective to our office based on her solid, wide-ranging experience counseling market participants in municipal securities transactions. Based on his experience working for a large issuer, Carlos brings an important, municipal issuer-focused perspective to our office."
