Milbank LLP is pleased to announce the addition of former Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) official Amanda Olear in Washington, DC. Ms. Olear joins Milbank from the CFTC, where she served for over 17 years in multiple leadership roles, including as Director of the Market Participants Division and Acting Director of the Division of Market Oversight.
“We are excited to welcome Amanda to Milbank,” said Milbank Chairman Scott A. Edelman. “Her significant experience as a leader in commodities, derivatives and fintech will be a tremendous asset to our clients and continues our growth in these critical areas.”
Ms. Olear joined the CFTC in 2007 and worked her way up through the ranks to multiple leadership capacities. In her most recent role as Acting Director of the Division of Market Oversight, she led a team of attorneys, analysts and other professional staff in overseeing all federally regulated derivatives markets. From 2021 to 2024, Ms. Olear was the Director of the Market Participants Division, where she oversaw over 3,300 dealers, brokers and asset managers registered with the CFTC.
“Amanda’s arrival will add further depth to our white collar and regulatory enforcement practices where expertise in the commodities, derivatives and digital asset markets is becoming more and more critical,” said George S. Canellos, global head of the Litigation & Arbitration Group.
At Milbank, Ms. Olear’s practice will focus on regulatory and enforcement matters involving derivatives trading, financial market infrastructure and digital assets. She will work closely with Litigation & Arbitration partner Josh Sterling, who recently joined Milbank and previously served as Director of the Market Participants Division at the CFTC.
“I am thrilled to welcome Amanda to the firm,” said Mr. Sterling. “I had the pleasure of working closely with Amanda while at the CFTC and know firsthand how invaluable her vast experience as a senior regulator will be to our regulatory, transactional and litigation teams that work in the derivatives, commodities and fintech spaces.”
“Milbank has long been known as one the premiere firms for litigation and financial services, and I am delighted to join this highly regarded team and bring my experience to bear on behalf of our clients,” commented Ms. Olear.
Ms. Olear holds a J.D., with honors, from the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law and a B.A., summa cum laude, from McDaniel College.
