George B. Curtis is a partner in the litigation department of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher's Denver and Washington, D.C. offices. He is a trial lawyer specializing in complex securities, corporate and accountancy matters. His trial experience ranges from "mini-trials" presented as part of settlement negotiations to the defense of clients in large, complex litigation. He has tried cases in state, federal and administrative courts, including one action that involved a coordinated proceeding of more than 1,000 lawsuits.
Most recently, Mr. Curtis served as Deputy Director of Enforcement with the Securities and Exchange Commission. He joined the Commission's staff in late 2006 as Regional Director of the SEC's Denver regional office where he was responsible for the staff's enforcement and examination work over a seven state region. He was named Deputy Director of the Division of Enforcement in 2008 and continued in that role until becoming Special Advisor to the Director in September, 2009. As Deputy Director of Enforcement from 2008 to 2009, Mr. Curtis worked closely with the staff nationwide in responding to the financial crisis and in developing and supervising the staff's investigations and recommendations to the Commission. He resigned his position with the Commission staff and rejoined the firm in December, 2009.
As a trial lawyer, Mr. Curtis has dealt with all aspects of complex litigation and, prior to joining the SEC's staff, devoted the majority of his practice to the defense of cases involving allegations of securities law violations, professional negligence and related causes of action. Mr. Curtis also has represented clients before several federal and state administrative tribunals and in grand jury investigations.
Mr. Curtis joined Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP in 1976 after graduating from the University of Chicago Law School, where he held a Russell Sage Foundation Fellowship in Law and Social Science. He has served as Partner in Charge of the Denver office and also served a term on the firm's Executive Committee. He has a M.A. and Ph.D. in legal history from the University of Virginia and has taught at that university and both the University of Southern California and the University of Denver. One of his articles, dealing with an issue of standing, has been cited by the United States Supreme Court.
He is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court and the United States Courts of Appeal for the Ninth and Tenth Circuits, and is a member of the Colorado and California State Bar Associations and the Bar Association for the District of Columbia.