Tejal D. Shah

Tejal rejoined Cooley after serving for more than 11 years at the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), most recently as a senior officer in the enforcement division. In that role, she co-led the SEC’s enforcement program in New York and supervised approximately 150 attorneys, accountants and investigators. Tejal oversaw investigations and litigations spanning the full scope of the federal securities laws, including matters involving securities offerings, accounting issues, insider trading, cybersecurity, public companies, private companies, broker-dealers and investment advisers. At Cooley, Tejal leads complex internal investigations, defends companies and individuals before government agencies and in high-stakes litigation and advises companies on regulatory risks.

Before becoming a senior officer at the SEC, Tejal was selected to serve as senior special counsel to the enforcement director and deputy director, and before that as enforcement counsel to the chair. In those roles, she advised the agency’s most senior leadership on over 1,200 enforcement matters, complex legal issues, process improvements and interagency coordination. She collaborated with SEC staff throughout the agency, including in all of the regional offices and at the agency’s headquarters in Washington, DC. Tejal’s SEC career began as a staff attorney, during which time she led several high-profile investigations and litigations. Her diverse experiences at the SEC provide her with a unique understanding of the agency’s priorities, policies and practices.  She also has substantial experience coordinating investigations and resolutions with other government agencies, including the Department of Justice, FBI, Commodity Futures Trading Commission and state and foreign regulators. 

At Cooley, Tejal leverages her experience and deep knowledge of government investigations to advise clients on how to navigate regulatory inquiries and obtain successful outcomes.

Tejal’s recent representative matters include:

• Conducting an independent investigation concerning potential related party transactions and related disclosure issues on behalf of the special committee of a publicly traded company
• Conducting an independent investigation on behalf of a publicly traded company’s audit committee following a whistleblower report concerning issues relating to the company’s IPO
• Representing an individual in connection with an SEC investigation concerning potential insider trading
• Representing an individual in connection with an SEC investigation concerning a potential offering fraud
• Representing an investment adviser in connection with an SEC investigation concerning the sale of pre-IPO securities
• Representing a publicly traded company in connection with an SEC investigation involving allegations of channel stuffing
• Advising clients seeking proactive guidance or relief from the SEC or CFTC through requests for no action letters or other engagement with the staff
• Advising clients with respect to compliance with laws applicable to investment advisers and broker dealers

Presentations

• Panelist, “Geopolitical shifts: The global enforcement landscape and its emerging leaders,” GIR Live: Women in Investigations 2026, London, England, June 10, 2026
• Panelist, “Former SEC Officials Speak,” NYC Bar White Collar Conference, New York City, NY, May 14, 2026
• Panelist, “The ‘New Day’ at the SEC After One Year – The Impact of Changes in Leadership, Priorities, Policies and Organization,” Securities Enforcement Forum, New York City, NY, February 5, 2026
• Panelist, “Inside the SEC – How the SEC Works,” Practicing Law Institute, New York City, New York, January 16, 2026
• Panelist, “A ‘New Day at the SEC’ – The Macro and Micro Impact of Changes in Leadership, Priorities, Policy and Organization,” Securities Enforcement Forum, Washington, DC, October 30, 2025
• Panelist, “The Enforcer’s Perspective: Current Hedge and Private Fund Enforcement Priorities,” Practicing Law Institute, New York City, New York, October 27, 2025
• Panelist, “Networking Luncheon with Fireside Chat,” New York City Bar Compliance Conference, New York City Bar, New York, October 22, 2025
• Panelist, “Federal White Collar Enforcement Landscape,” Federal Bar Council, Skytop Lodge, Pennsylvania, October 18, 2025

Publications:

Co-Author, “3 Cases Highlight SEC Distinction Between Exec, Co. Liability,” Law360, March 2, 2026

Co-Author, “Key Tronic Case Shows SEC Isn’t Ignoring Controls Violations,” Law360, May 15, 2026