Sean Hennessy
Sean Hennessy
- Regulatory Compliance
- Litigation & Enforcement
- Labor & Employment
Biography
Sean Hennessy is a seasoned litigator and former federal enforcement attorney with extensive experience representing businesses and individuals in complex civil litigation, government investigations, and regulatory enforcement actions. Prior to joining Mitchell Sandler, Sean served as a Trial Attorney in the Division of Enforcement at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), where he led high-stakes investigations and federal court prosecutions involving insider trading, market manipulation, financial fraud, and other misconduct. While at the CFTC, Sean served on the agency’s Digital Assets Task Force and was a key advisor to leadership on emerging legal and technological developments in crypto enforcement and regulation.
Before government service, Sean practiced for nearly a decade at Arnold & Porter, where he advised companies and individuals in federal and state court litigation matters spanning a wide range of industries and subject matters—including complex commercial disputes, breach of contract, corporate governance, class action, employment, antitrust, product liability, consumer protection, bankruptcy, and False Claims Act litigation. Sean also led internal investigations and represented clients in matters before the DOJ, SEC, FTC, and state attorneys general and state departments of financial services.
Sean served as a law clerk to the Honorable John D. Bates of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Prior to entering the legal field, Sean spent nearly a decade in business consulting roles, providing strategic and financial guidance to businesses, government agencies, and higher education institutions.
Fun Facts
Favorite Apps
Apple Podcasts
ESPN
Superpower
Persistence + Optimism
Favorite Thing to Binge Watch
All sports (especially D.C. teams)
The Office
Passions
Family
Travel
Fitness + Sports (playing and coaching)
Previous Experience
Commodity Futures Trading Commission
Arnold & Porter
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia (Law Clerk to Judge John D. Bates)
Education
J.D., Georgetown University Law Center, magna cum laude
M.A., Economics, Fordham University
B.A., Economics, Loyola College, magna cum laude
Admissions
District of Columbia
Maryland
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida