The Securities and Exchange Commission has named Michael Conley as the new deputy solicitor in the Commission’s Office of the General Counsel. In his new role, Conley will help oversee the SEC’s appellate and amicus curiae litigation.

The appellate group is largely responsible for arguing SEC enforcement cases that get appealed from the trial level. It also litigates agency rulemakings and actions that get challenged in appellate courts.

Conley, who joined the SEC in 2000, was previously senior special counsel in the appellate section of the general counsel’s office. Prior to joining the commission, Conley was managing partner of the Washington office of Pillsbury Madison & Sutro, which has since become Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman.

As Compliance Week previously reported, SEC Chairman Mary Schapiro earlier this month appointed David Becker general counsel of the agency. Most recently a partner in the D.C. office of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, Becker held the GC job from 2000 to 2002. Becker has also added the title of senior policy director.