PCAOB Names Marc B. Dorfman as Chief Hearing Officer

The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board today announced that Marc B. Dorfman joined the organization as the Chief Hearing Officer.

As head of the Office of the Chief Hearing Officer, Mr. Dorfman will adjudicate disciplinary proceedings instituted by the Board against registered public accounting firms and persons associated with those firms, as well as certain proceedings involving firm registration applications.

"Marc has had a distinguished career as a securities lawyer, first at the Securities and Exchange Commission and then in private law practice. His knowledge, experience and judgment will serve him well as the PCAOB's Chief Hearing Officer," said PCAOB Chairman James R. Doty.

The duties of the Chief Hearing Officer include scheduling and conducting hearings, ruling on motions, and preparing initial decisions in PCAOB disciplinary proceedings.

Mr. Dorfman joined the PCAOB from Foley & Lardner LLP, where he was a partner in the law firm's Litigation Department, working in the Securities Enforcement & Litigation and the Appellate practices. He represented parties in SEC and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) investigations and enforcement proceedings, including administrative proceedings, proceedings in federal district courts, and appeals.

He also represented parties in securities arbitration cases, represented audit committees and special committees of boards of directors in conducting internal investigations, and appeared as an expert witness in securities regulation matters.

Since 2002, Mr. Dorfman has served as an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University Law Center, where he teaches a course in SEC enforcement and litigation.

Previously, Mr. Dorfman was a trial attorney and special counsel in the SEC Division of Enforcement, where he handled a wide variety of investigations and enforcement actions. He received an AB, magna cum laude, from Yale University and a JD, cum laude, from Harvard Law School.

David M. FitzGerald, the Senior Chief Hearing Officer, is retiring from the Board.