Luis A. Aguilar

Luis Alberto Aguilar (born November 21, 1953) is an American lawyer and former U.S. government official.
He was the Democratic commissioner of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) from July 31, 2008, until December 2015 (after his term expired). He had been appointed by U.S. President George W. Bush on March 31, 2008, and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on June 27, 2008; he was sworn in as a commissioner on July 31, 2008. He was reappointed by President Barack Obama in 2011. At the time his tenure ended he was the eight longest-serving Commissioner in SEC history and was one of only three Commissioners to have been nominated by two U.S. Presidents from two different political parties.
Early life and education.
Aguilar was born in Cuba and emigrated to the United States in the 1960s.
He is a graduate of the University of Georgia School of Law, and also received a Master of Laws degree in taxation from Emory University. He had earlier earned a bachelor's degree from Georgia Southern University.
Career.
Prior to his appointment as an SEC commissioner, Aguilar was a partner with the international law firm of McKenna Long & Aldridge, specializing in securities law. During his career, his practice included matters pertaining to general corporate and business law, international transactions, investment companies and investment advisers, securities law, and corporate finance. He also focused on issues related to corporate governance, public and private offerings (initial public offerings and secondary market offerings), mergers and acquisitions, mutual funds, investment advisers, broker-dealers, and other aspects of federal and state securities laws and regulations.
Aguilar's previous experience includes serving as the general counsel, executive vice president, and corporate secretary of the investment management company Invesco, with responsibility for all legal and compliance matters regarding Invesco Institutional. He also was Invesco's managing director for Latin America in the late 1990s.
His career also includes tenure as a partner at several national law firms and as an attorney at SEC.
Other activities.
He has been active in numerous civic and business associations. From May 2005 to May 2007, he chaired the Latin American Association (LAA), a non-profit organization. He has been active with national organizations, including Hispanic National Bar Association. In 2002, Aguilar was co-chair of the association's annual convention and also served as regional president (for Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi) (2002–2006), chair of its financial committee (2003–2005), and a member of its board of governors (since 2002). In addition, he served as the president of the Hispanic National Bar Foundation (September 2006 – July 2008).
During his time at the SEC, Commissioner Aguilar represented the Commission as its liaison to both the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) and to the Council of Securities Regulators of the Americas (COSRA). He also served as the primary sponsor of the SEC's first Investor Advisory Committee. In addition, Commissioner Aguilar served as sponsor of the SEC's Hispanic and Latino Opportunity, Leadership, and Advocacy Committee, the SEC’s African American Council, and the SEC’s Caribbean American Heritage Committee.
Personal life.
He is married to Denise Traylor Aguilar who hails from Roanoke, Alabama.