Michael Mitchell

Partner

Washington, D.C.

Mike is widely regarded as a preeminent securities law attorney and has led several industry advocacy initiatives in response to nearly two decades of regulatory reforms impacting the structured finance markets.

Described by Chambers USA as having “an in-depth understanding of securities regulations” and with clients commenting that “his knowledge base is superior,” Mike has extensive experience representing issuers and underwriters in consumer asset-backed securitization transactions. Mike has one of the top credit card securitization practices in the market and he also advises on a broad range of ABS, including transactions supported by consumer loans, motor vehicle loans and leases, dealer floorplan receivables, student loans, and residential and commercial mortagages.

Mike serves as counsel to financial institutions in capital markets and debt financing transactions and regularly advises clients on application of the federal securities laws and Dodd-Frank implementing regulations in the structured finance market.

Mike has served as outside counsel to the Structured Finance Association, and previously to the American Securitization Forum (ASF). He has drafted industry comment letters on Regulation AB (2004), Regulation AB2 (2010/2011), the Prohibition on Material Conflicts of Interest (2012), and Cybersecurity Risk and Incident Disclosure Rules (2022). Mike has also served as Chair of the Structured Finance Association's Revolving Master Trust Working Group in connection with its industry advocacy on Risk Retention.

Mike joined Orrick in 1997 and was a partner in Orrick’s Structured Finance Group until 2012. Prior to rejoining the firm in 2021, Mike was a partner in Chapman and Cutler’s Asset Securitization Department. He has also served as a Special Counsel with the Securities and Exchange Commission in the Office of the Chief Counsel for the Division of Corporation Finance. At the SEC, Mike had extensive involvement in oversight of the structured finance market and worked on a proposal—a precursor to Regulation AB—to develop disclosure and reporting guidelines for asset-backed issuers.