Braeden Anderson

Before joining Gesmer, Braeden founded a boutique firm based in Washington, D.C. He previously served as Assistant General Counsel at Robinhood, where he advised on high-stakes regulatory and enforcement matters. Earlier in his career, he practiced at several elite global law firms headquartered in New York and D.C., representing clients before key federal enforcement agencies.

Represented an SEC-registered investment adviser in parallel multistate and SEC enforcement actions relating to suitability and fiduciary issues connected to portfolio construction and client risk profiles involving complex, inverse-leveraged, and crypto-exposed ETFs.

Advised a high-growth startup in a corporate governance dispute involving the investigation and negotiated departure of a board member and co-founder accused of misconduct.

Provided regulatory counsel for a digital asset platform launching a tokenized security under Regulation A+, including SEC compliance, state blue sky law analysis, and investor structuring.

Structured and documented a private placement under Regulation D (506(c)) for an investment vehicle, including accredited investor protocols, subscription documentation, and Form D filing.

Delivered regulatory opinion and risk analysis concerning broker-dealer registration thresholds for a financial advisory business pursuing capital introductions and investor matchmaking.

Supported dual-entity RIA structuring and compliance enhancements for affiliated investment advisers seeking to manage separately operated client portfolios.

Represented professional athletes and their business ventures in connection with NIL and athlete rights legal strategy, formation of investment vehicles, and regulatory structuring.

SEC investigation into financial disclosures: Supported the defense of a public company by analyzing documents, identifying key communications, and contributing to strategic responses to regulatory requests.

SEC and DOJ investigation concerning allegations of securities fraud involving a major public company, focusing on fraudulent financial practices and related party transactions.

Internal embezzlement investigation for an NFL team, conducting a comprehensive audit and implementing corrective measures.

DOJ investigation into lending practices at a regional bank, navigating regulatory requirements and addressing potential violations.

Congressional investigation into business practices within a major professional football league, coordinating with legislative committees and ensuring transparency.

Led defense of an SEC investigation into municipal securities trading by a global financial institution, focusing on regulatory compliance and trading practices.

Led internal investigation into disclosure practices and offshore reinsurance activities for a multinational corporation, assessing international regulatory compliance.

Coordinated regulatory inquiry brought by multiple government agencies against a Wall Street bank regarding their trading practices and response to market volatility.

SEC inquiry into insider trading involving a large financial institution, implementing a comprehensive risk mitigation strategy and engaging with regulators to reach a favorable resolution.

Conducted internal investigation related to international transactions and governance practices for a multinational corporation facing regulatory scrutiny—and defended the business through a myriad of parallel government inquiries.

Assisted a major financial institution in regulatory filings addressing a disqualification event, including analyzing financial disclosures and crafting a strategic response to ensure compliance.

Led multi-level investigative review for an SEC investigation into financial disclosures by a global automotive corporation, focusing on future liability estimates and internal controls.

Developed a comprehensive defense strategy for a FINRA investigation into an investment firm, including preparing witnesses and negotiating a favorable resolution.

*Some matters occurred outside of Gesmer Updegrove LLP.

Mr. Anderson is a prominent voice in securities and crypto regulation, contributing regular thought leadership via his weekly newsletter (reaching over 20,000 legal and financial professionals) and YouTube channel (150,000+ subscribers). He frequently writes and speaks on enforcement trends, the future of fintech regulation, and the role of digital assets in capital markets. He also produces multimedia educational content tailored to regulators, in-house counsel, and compliance professionals.

He was recently named the #1 most-read thought leader in the United States for fintech in Mondaq’s Spring 2025 Thought Leadership Awards, recognizing Braeden as the top U.S. firm for fintech regulatory writing.

Braeden was recently selected by his peers for inclusion in the sixth edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America (2025) for his expertise in:

• Financial Services Regulation Law

• Securities Regulation

Braeden is also listed in Marquis Who's Who in America for his professional contributions to law and public service.

Braeden has represented survivors of domestic violence and other vulnerable populations in pro bono matters involving immigration and civil rights, including work through HerJustice on behalf of women facing complex family and immigration challenges. His pro bono practice also includes serving as counsel to journalist Linda Tirado, who sustained permanent vision loss after being shot while covering protests in Minnesota, and contributing to an amicus brief filed with the U.S. Supreme Court in Department of Commerce v. New York on behalf of the American Jewish Committee (AJC) and 13 interfaith organizations, opposing the addition of a citizenship question to the 2020 census due to its projected harm to vulnerable communities.

Braeden has also served as an adjunct professor of business law and as Chair of the Corporate Law Section of the Metropolitan Black Bar Association. He was honored by Seton Hall Law School (his alma mater) with the Diversity Leadership Award in recognition of his contributions to legal diversity, equity, and inclusion.