ARIELLA GUARDI

Partner

Ariella Guardi is a partner in the CROKE FAIRCHILD DUARTE & BERES Litigation & Investigations practice group.

With more than a decade of experience as Senior Trial Counsel at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, Ariella brings an insider’s perspective to defending and advising her clients facing regulatory questions, investigations, or disputes. A partner in Croke Fairchild’s Litigation & Investigations Group, she leverages her firsthand knowledge to represent clients in government enforcement actions and investigations, internal corporate investigations, and complex business disputes. She also provides regulatory compliance counseling to clients, including individuals, public companies, investment advisers, broker dealers, digital asset companies, private equity funds, and fintech, to proactively address regulatory risks before they escalate.

Ariella served in the SEC’s Chicago Regional Office for over a decade, investigating and litigating a wide variety of enforcement matters, including accounting fraud and audit failures, offering fraud, registration violations, broker dealer liability, market manipulation, and investment adviser compliance. Ariella also served as a Special Assistant United States Attorney in both the District of Minnesota and the Northern District of Illinois, where she investigated and prosecuted complex criminal fraud matters. Prior to her government service, Ariella practiced at Sidley Austin LLP.

Ariella’s practice focuses on litigation, regulatory compliance, and investigations. She counsels and represents clients on matters including:

• • Enforcement defense, including SEC, CFTC , DOJ, FINRA, PCAOB, and other regulatory bodies
  • Response to regulatory subpoenas
  • Internal investigations
  • Compliance program development and advice
  • Digital asset and cryptocurrency regulatory counseling