The Securities and Exchange Commission announced on May 4 that James Burns will become the agency's Deputy Chief of Staff. He replaces Kayla Gillan, who left the agency at the end of April.

Burns has been a member of Chairman Schapiro's staff since March 2010, working chiefly on issues involving the Division of Trading and Markets. From August 2008 to February 2010, Burns was a counsel to Commissioner Kathleen Casey, advising her on investment management issues.

Before coming to the SEC, Burns was a securities lawyer in private practice and focused on investment management and enforcement matters. He served as a law clerk to Judge William Traxler on the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. Burns previously worked on federal higher education policy at the American Council on Education, and also worked at Oriel College, Oxford University.