Senior Staff

Board Staff

William Ryan

Chief Counsel

Division of Enforcement and Investigations

As Chief Counsel, William Ryan supervises attorneys in investigations of possible violations of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, PCAOB rules, applicable federal securities laws relating to the preparation and issuance of audit reports, and professional standards. Mr. Ryan joined the PCAOB in January 2007 and was promoted to Deputy Director in 2012. He was named Chief Counsel in 2023.  

Prior to joining the PCAOB, Mr. Ryan served for eight years as an Assistant Director and trial attorney in the Commercial Litigation Branch of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division. At DOJ, he represented the United States at trial and on appeal in complex commercial matters.  

Mr. Ryan also has worked as a teaching fellow at Columbia Law School and as a law clerk for U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton.  

He received a B.A., summa cum laude, from Tufts University and a J.D. and LL.M. from Columbia Law School.

Divisions

Enforcement and Investigations

William Ryan

Chief Counsel

Division of Enforcement and Investigations

As Chief Counsel, William Ryan supervises attorneys in investigations of possible violations of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, PCAOB rules, applicable federal securities laws relating to the preparation and issuance of audit reports, and professional standards. Mr. Ryan joined the PCAOB in January 2007 and was promoted to Deputy Director in 2012. He was named Chief Counsel in 2023.  

Prior to joining the PCAOB, Mr. Ryan served for eight years as an Assistant Director and trial attorney in the Commercial Litigation Branch of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division. At DOJ, he represented the United States at trial and on appeal in complex commercial matters.  

Mr. Ryan also has worked as a teaching fellow at Columbia Law School and as a law clerk for U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton.  

He received a B.A., summa cum laude, from Tufts University and a J.D. and LL.M. from Columbia Law School.

Registration and Inspections

William Ryan

Chief Counsel

Division of Enforcement and Investigations

As Chief Counsel, William Ryan supervises attorneys in investigations of possible violations of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, PCAOB rules, applicable federal securities laws relating to the preparation and issuance of audit reports, and professional standards. Mr. Ryan joined the PCAOB in January 2007 and was promoted to Deputy Director in 2012. He was named Chief Counsel in 2023.  

Prior to joining the PCAOB, Mr. Ryan served for eight years as an Assistant Director and trial attorney in the Commercial Litigation Branch of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division. At DOJ, he represented the United States at trial and on appeal in complex commercial matters.  

Mr. Ryan also has worked as a teaching fellow at Columbia Law School and as a law clerk for U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton.  

He received a B.A., summa cum laude, from Tufts University and a J.D. and LL.M. from Columbia Law School.

Offices

Chief Auditor

William Ryan

Chief Counsel

Division of Enforcement and Investigations

As Chief Counsel, William Ryan supervises attorneys in investigations of possible violations of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, PCAOB rules, applicable federal securities laws relating to the preparation and issuance of audit reports, and professional standards. Mr. Ryan joined the PCAOB in January 2007 and was promoted to Deputy Director in 2012. He was named Chief Counsel in 2023.  

Prior to joining the PCAOB, Mr. Ryan served for eight years as an Assistant Director and trial attorney in the Commercial Litigation Branch of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division. At DOJ, he represented the United States at trial and on appeal in complex commercial matters.  

Mr. Ryan also has worked as a teaching fellow at Columbia Law School and as a law clerk for U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton.  

He received a B.A., summa cum laude, from Tufts University and a J.D. and LL.M. from Columbia Law School.

Chief Hearing Officer

William Ryan

Chief Counsel

Division of Enforcement and Investigations

As Chief Counsel, William Ryan supervises attorneys in investigations of possible violations of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, PCAOB rules, applicable federal securities laws relating to the preparation and issuance of audit reports, and professional standards. Mr. Ryan joined the PCAOB in January 2007 and was promoted to Deputy Director in 2012. He was named Chief Counsel in 2023.  

Prior to joining the PCAOB, Mr. Ryan served for eight years as an Assistant Director and trial attorney in the Commercial Litigation Branch of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division. At DOJ, he represented the United States at trial and on appeal in complex commercial matters.  

Mr. Ryan also has worked as a teaching fellow at Columbia Law School and as a law clerk for U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton.  

He received a B.A., summa cum laude, from Tufts University and a J.D. and LL.M. from Columbia Law School.

Chief Operating Officer

William Ryan

Chief Counsel

Division of Enforcement and Investigations

As Chief Counsel, William Ryan supervises attorneys in investigations of possible violations of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, PCAOB rules, applicable federal securities laws relating to the preparation and issuance of audit reports, and professional standards. Mr. Ryan joined the PCAOB in January 2007 and was promoted to Deputy Director in 2012. He was named Chief Counsel in 2023.  

Prior to joining the PCAOB, Mr. Ryan served for eight years as an Assistant Director and trial attorney in the Commercial Litigation Branch of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division. At DOJ, he represented the United States at trial and on appeal in complex commercial matters.  

Mr. Ryan also has worked as a teaching fellow at Columbia Law School and as a law clerk for U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton.  

He received a B.A., summa cum laude, from Tufts University and a J.D. and LL.M. from Columbia Law School.

Communications and Engagement

William Ryan

Chief Counsel

Division of Enforcement and Investigations

As Chief Counsel, William Ryan supervises attorneys in investigations of possible violations of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, PCAOB rules, applicable federal securities laws relating to the preparation and issuance of audit reports, and professional standards. Mr. Ryan joined the PCAOB in January 2007 and was promoted to Deputy Director in 2012. He was named Chief Counsel in 2023.  

Prior to joining the PCAOB, Mr. Ryan served for eight years as an Assistant Director and trial attorney in the Commercial Litigation Branch of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division. At DOJ, he represented the United States at trial and on appeal in complex commercial matters.  

Mr. Ryan also has worked as a teaching fellow at Columbia Law School and as a law clerk for U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton.  

He received a B.A., summa cum laude, from Tufts University and a J.D. and LL.M. from Columbia Law School.

Economic and Risk Analysis

William Ryan

Chief Counsel

Division of Enforcement and Investigations

As Chief Counsel, William Ryan supervises attorneys in investigations of possible violations of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, PCAOB rules, applicable federal securities laws relating to the preparation and issuance of audit reports, and professional standards. Mr. Ryan joined the PCAOB in January 2007 and was promoted to Deputy Director in 2012. He was named Chief Counsel in 2023.  

Prior to joining the PCAOB, Mr. Ryan served for eight years as an Assistant Director and trial attorney in the Commercial Litigation Branch of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division. At DOJ, he represented the United States at trial and on appeal in complex commercial matters.  

Mr. Ryan also has worked as a teaching fellow at Columbia Law School and as a law clerk for U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton.  

He received a B.A., summa cum laude, from Tufts University and a J.D. and LL.M. from Columbia Law School.

Enterprise Risk Management

William Ryan

Chief Counsel

Division of Enforcement and Investigations

As Chief Counsel, William Ryan supervises attorneys in investigations of possible violations of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, PCAOB rules, applicable federal securities laws relating to the preparation and issuance of audit reports, and professional standards. Mr. Ryan joined the PCAOB in January 2007 and was promoted to Deputy Director in 2012. He was named Chief Counsel in 2023.  

Prior to joining the PCAOB, Mr. Ryan served for eight years as an Assistant Director and trial attorney in the Commercial Litigation Branch of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division. At DOJ, he represented the United States at trial and on appeal in complex commercial matters.  

Mr. Ryan also has worked as a teaching fellow at Columbia Law School and as a law clerk for U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton.  

He received a B.A., summa cum laude, from Tufts University and a J.D. and LL.M. from Columbia Law School.

General Counsel

William Ryan

Chief Counsel

Division of Enforcement and Investigations

As Chief Counsel, William Ryan supervises attorneys in investigations of possible violations of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, PCAOB rules, applicable federal securities laws relating to the preparation and issuance of audit reports, and professional standards. Mr. Ryan joined the PCAOB in January 2007 and was promoted to Deputy Director in 2012. He was named Chief Counsel in 2023.  

Prior to joining the PCAOB, Mr. Ryan served for eight years as an Assistant Director and trial attorney in the Commercial Litigation Branch of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division. At DOJ, he represented the United States at trial and on appeal in complex commercial matters.  

Mr. Ryan also has worked as a teaching fellow at Columbia Law School and as a law clerk for U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton.  

He received a B.A., summa cum laude, from Tufts University and a J.D. and LL.M. from Columbia Law School.

Internal Oversight and Performance Assurance

William Ryan

Chief Counsel

Division of Enforcement and Investigations

As Chief Counsel, William Ryan supervises attorneys in investigations of possible violations of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, PCAOB rules, applicable federal securities laws relating to the preparation and issuance of audit reports, and professional standards. Mr. Ryan joined the PCAOB in January 2007 and was promoted to Deputy Director in 2012. He was named Chief Counsel in 2023.  

Prior to joining the PCAOB, Mr. Ryan served for eight years as an Assistant Director and trial attorney in the Commercial Litigation Branch of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division. At DOJ, he represented the United States at trial and on appeal in complex commercial matters.  

Mr. Ryan also has worked as a teaching fellow at Columbia Law School and as a law clerk for U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton.  

He received a B.A., summa cum laude, from Tufts University and a J.D. and LL.M. from Columbia Law School.

International Affairs

William Ryan

Chief Counsel

Division of Enforcement and Investigations

As Chief Counsel, William Ryan supervises attorneys in investigations of possible violations of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, PCAOB rules, applicable federal securities laws relating to the preparation and issuance of audit reports, and professional standards. Mr. Ryan joined the PCAOB in January 2007 and was promoted to Deputy Director in 2012. He was named Chief Counsel in 2023.  

Prior to joining the PCAOB, Mr. Ryan served for eight years as an Assistant Director and trial attorney in the Commercial Litigation Branch of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division. At DOJ, he represented the United States at trial and on appeal in complex commercial matters.  

Mr. Ryan also has worked as a teaching fellow at Columbia Law School and as a law clerk for U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton.  

He received a B.A., summa cum laude, from Tufts University and a J.D. and LL.M. from Columbia Law School.

Investor Advocate

William Ryan

Chief Counsel

Division of Enforcement and Investigations

As Chief Counsel, William Ryan supervises attorneys in investigations of possible violations of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, PCAOB rules, applicable federal securities laws relating to the preparation and issuance of audit reports, and professional standards. Mr. Ryan joined the PCAOB in January 2007 and was promoted to Deputy Director in 2012. He was named Chief Counsel in 2023.  

Prior to joining the PCAOB, Mr. Ryan served for eight years as an Assistant Director and trial attorney in the Commercial Litigation Branch of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division. At DOJ, he represented the United States at trial and on appeal in complex commercial matters.  

Mr. Ryan also has worked as a teaching fellow at Columbia Law School and as a law clerk for U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton.  

He received a B.A., summa cum laude, from Tufts University and a J.D. and LL.M. from Columbia Law School.

Secretary

William Ryan

Chief Counsel

Division of Enforcement and Investigations

As Chief Counsel, William Ryan supervises attorneys in investigations of possible violations of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, PCAOB rules, applicable federal securities laws relating to the preparation and issuance of audit reports, and professional standards. Mr. Ryan joined the PCAOB in January 2007 and was promoted to Deputy Director in 2012. He was named Chief Counsel in 2023.  

Prior to joining the PCAOB, Mr. Ryan served for eight years as an Assistant Director and trial attorney in the Commercial Litigation Branch of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division. At DOJ, he represented the United States at trial and on appeal in complex commercial matters.  

Mr. Ryan also has worked as a teaching fellow at Columbia Law School and as a law clerk for U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton.  

He received a B.A., summa cum laude, from Tufts University and a J.D. and LL.M. from Columbia Law School.