Law firm Debevoise & Plimpton has appointed Robert Kaplan as litigation partner. Currently, Kaplan serves as co-chief of the asset management unit of the Securities and Exchange Commission's Division of Enforcement.

In his new role, Kaplan will oversee securities-related enforcement and compliance issues, especially cases that involve requirements affecting SEC-registered investment advisers affiliated with hedge funds, private equity funds, investment companies, mutual funds and separately managed funds.

Kaplan joined the Division of Enforcement in 1995 as a staff attorney, and then as senior counsel. He served for five years as an assistant chief litigation counsel in the division's trial unit, and six years as an assistant director of the Division of Enforcement, prior to becoming co-chief of the asset management unit. In this capacity, he co-lead a team of 75 lawyers and focused on investigations related to potential violations of securities laws by advisers to hedge funds, private equity funds, mutual funds and separately managed accounts.

Prior to joining the SEC, Kaplan was a litigation associate at a New York law firm, where he worked on cases involving securities litigation and enforcement matters, including SEC and SRO investigations.