Baker Botts L.L.P.

Litigation

Partner

With the practical insights of a government insider and the composed demeanor of a seasoned litigator, Michael Loesch provides clients with tailored strategies to satisfy the toughest regulators and intelligently manage risk. Michael’s ability to bring seasoned judgment and creative solutions to bear enables him to help clients navigate complex matters involving securities, commodities, and derivatives. His unique skillset is why clients encountering bet-the-company enforcement, regulatory, and compliance matters rely on his ability to calmly and effectively guide them through.

When faced with high-stakes investigations, Michael partners with clients to design offensive and defensive strategies to achieve optimal outcomes. He has handled a broad range of complex investigations and inquiries involving the SEC, CFTC, FERC, DOJ, FINRA, NFA, and various exchanges. Michael also has served as a government mandated independent compliance consultant and conducted broad public company compliance program assessments, and he conducts voluntary compliance reviews for businesses that are interested in proactive assistance. When advising clients on regulatory compliance, Michael helps companies understand and address the latest rules. He has a particular focus on advising clients on CFTC and SEC regulations, including matters involving energy futures and swaps trading, digital assets and crypto, and environmental products and voluntary carbon markets.

Prior to Baker Botts and his private law practice, Mr. Loesch spent nearly 15 years in federal regulatory and legislative service. He served as the Chief of Staff and Chief Operating Officer at the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, where he provided counsel on energy market oversight, enforcement investigations, futures market surveillance, derivatives clearing, and litigation. Before the CFTC, he spent more than six years at the SEC as Branch Chief in the Division of Enforcement as well as Counsel to the Chairman for enforcement and examination matters. During this time, he handled all types of SEC investigations and advised on many of the SEC’s highest-profile enforcement proceedings. Before the SEC, Michael served in various roles as a staffer in the U.S. Senate, including as Counsel, U.S. Senate's Committee on Governmental Affairs, Subcommittee on International Security, Proliferation and Federal Services.

District of Columbia Bar

Pennsylvania Bar

J.D., University of San Diego School of Law 1993

B.A., Pennsylvania State University 1990