Adam S. Aderton

A former senior official in the SEC’s Enforcement Division, Adam Aderton focuses on regulatory and enforcement matters, with a particular emphasis on advising clients across the asset management industry. He has deep experience in complex regulatory inquiries and litigation matters involving private equity funds, venture capital funds, hedge funds, BDCs, mutual funds and ETFs, as well as separately managed accounts. He also provides asset managers with practical ongoing compliance advice. Adam is a thought leader in the space, regularly speaking on asset management enforcement issues to leading industry groups, including the Investment Adviser Association, the Investment Company Institute and the Institutional Investor Legal Forum, among others.

Updated Oct. 2025

• A hedge fund in an SEC investigation concerning treatment of material nonpublic information (MNPI).
  
  
• Private equity advisers in two distinct SEC investigations involving potential management fee fraud.
  
  
• A Fortune 50 financial institution in an SEC investigation involving potential misleading disclosures.
  
  
• Prior to joining Simpson Thacher, Adam represented various registered investment advisers in multiple SEC investigations involving: the calculation of private equity fund management fees; the pay-to-play rules; the marketing rule; the SEC whistleblower rules; material non-public information controls; block trading practices; and off-channel communications. Many of the investigations were terminated with no action against the client.
  
  
• Prior to joining Simpson Thacher, Adam advised on multiple internal investigations, involving: allegations of misrepresentation of investment strategy against a registered investment adviser; allegations of failure to enforce information barriers against a registered investment adviser; and SEC filings by a registered investment adviser.

• Government and regulatory
• White collar crime

• Financial services
• Technology and telecommunications

• J.D. Order of the Coif; Editor, Virginia Law Review - University of Virginia School of Law - 2004
• B.A., summa cum laude - Truman State University - 2001

• District of Columbia - 2006
• Maryland - 2004