The Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Elisse Walter has appointed Geoffrey Aronow as general counsel, effective later this month. Aronow replaces Mark Cahn, who left the agency last week.

As the chief legal officer, Aronow will lead the office of the general counsel in advising the Commission on issues ranging from enforcement actions, rulemakings, and legal proceedings in federal courts throughout the country.

Aronow will join the SEC from law firm Bingham McCutchen, where he's currently a partner. In this capacity, he advises clients on matters before the SEC, Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), and other federal agencies as well as in litigation in federal courts and on legislative initiatives before Congress.

He has prior federal government leadership experience as the director of the division of enforcement at the CFTC for nearly four years. During his time there, he oversaw investigations, recommendations of action to the Commission, and litigation in federal court or administrative proceedings. He also worked at law firms Arnold & Porter and Heller Ehrman.