Connor Raso Named PCAOB Acting General Counsel

The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) today announced that Connor Raso has been appointed the PCAOB’s Acting General Counsel. In this role, he provides legal advice and counsel on all PCAOB operations and manages the Office of the General Counsel (OGC) and Office of the Secretary to execute the organization's statutory mandate.

Until his appointment as Acting General Counsel, Mr. Raso served as a Deputy General Counsel in OGC, advising the Board on PCAOB programs and operations and assisting with OGC’s management. Prior to joining the PCAOB in June 2022, he worked in various roles with the Securities and Exchange Commission and represented the Commission before the Administrative Conference of the United States. Earlier in his career, Mr. Raso served as an attorney-advisor at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and clerked on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. He holds a J.D. from Yale Law School, a Ph.D. from Stanford University’s Department of Political Science, and a B.S.B.A. from Washington University in St. Louis, where he was a Fulbright Scholar.

“Connor’s expertise and experience are great assets for the PCAOB and the OGC team,” said Chair Erica Y. Williams. “We are grateful he will serve as our Acting General Counsel.”

Mr. Cappoli joined the PCAOB in 2022 as a Deputy General Counsel. He was named Acting General Counsel in July 2023 and served as General Counsel from January 2024 until his departure this May.

During his tenure as General Counsel, OGC supported the Board’s work to improve audit quality, represented the Board in litigation and regulatory matters, and led key Board rulemakings. The latter included Board approval of rulemakings related to contributory liability and constructive requests to withdraw from registration.

“James has provided steady leadership and valuable expertise that helped OGC accomplish an incredible amount in service of investors,” said Chair Erica Y. Williams. “Among other things, James transformed the legal function of OGC through various organizational and operational improvements at a time when OGC was taking on more than it had ever done before and navigating novel and complex legal matters. We thank James for his service, and we wish him well in his next chapter.”

"I thank Chair Williams and the Board for the opportunity to lead the talented staff of the Office of the General Counsel," said Mr. Cappoli.

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About the PCAOB

The PCAOB is a nonprofit corporation established by Congress to oversee the audits of public companies in order to protect investors and further the public interest in the preparation of informative, accurate, and independent audit reports. The PCAOB also oversees the audits of brokers and dealers registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including compliance reports filed pursuant to federal securities laws.