Former state Rep. Tom Grady is retiring from his private law practice effective Aug. 29.
But his retirement is going to be very short.
Aug. 29 also happens to be the day Grady will start his new position as the Commissioner of the Office of Financial Regulation. Grady was appointed to the position Tuesday by Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet, seated as the Financial Services Commission.
“I think it is a terrific opportunity for me to continue my practice in the area of securities fraud and regulation,” he said. “I am a fervent believer in free markets.”
The mission of the Office of Financial Regulation is to protect the citizens of Florida by “carrying out the state’s banking, securities and financial laws in an efficient and effective manner and providing business regulation that promotes Florida’s economic development,” according to its web site.
Grady said the office regulates capital.
“Capital is necessary to job creation and all the things I thought were important when I was in the House,” he said. “I really admire Gov. Scott, Attorney General Pam Bondi ... It’s a great cabinet. It was a good opportunity to return to public service.”
Scott, who is Grady’s friend, neighbor and who once chaired Grady’s campaign for the Florida House, said he could think of no better person to serve as the state’s financial regulation commissioner.
“Tom has been centrally involved with the finance and banking industry for nearly three decades and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this post,” he said in a prepared statement. “In addition, he has demonstrated a high standard of integrity in all he has done and holds a deep commitment to serving the people of Florida.”
Grady has practiced law with Naples-based Grady and Associates since 1982, focusing on the areas of securities, investment advisor and financial industry regulation, litigation, arbitration and mediation. He has been active in securities organizations aimed at educating and safeguarding the public and raising the standards of professionalism within the brokerage industries.
Since 1992, Grady has served as a broker/dealer training instructor for the American Arbitration Association, the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange, the National Association of Securities Dealers, the North American Securities Association and Florida’s Office of Financial Regulation Arbitrator Training Programs.
Serving as a public member of the Securities Industry Conference on Arbitration organized by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission from 1995 to 2002, Grady has been a public member emeritus since 2003. He is also a public member emeritus the American Arbitration Association’s Securities Industry Advisory Committee.
“Tom served our state well as a great member of the Legislature and assisted the Attorney General’s Office in increasing our securities enforcement authority,” Bondi said in a statement. “His background and knowledge in banking and securities will help the Office of Financial Regulation protect consumers while balancing the needs of the business and financial community.”
Grady said he has not received direction yet from Scott as to what he would like to see from the Office of Financial Regulation, but said he is sure those issues will be waiting for him when he starts his new job in Tallahassee on Aug. 29.
Grady, who earned his bachelor’s degree from Florida State University and his law degree from Duke University, served one term in the Florida House of Representatives, deciding not to run for reelection in 2010.
In his term as a legislator, Grady worked to file legislation that would allow foreclosure victims to fast-track the process, as well as legislation pertaining to securities regulation and international banking and finance.
But leaving the House didn’t take him out of the political spotlight. Grady sued former Gov. Charlie Crist on behalf of several Republican donors who wanted their donations back after Crist announced he would run for Senate as an independent. Crist’s announcement came after he trailed Sen. Marco Rubio in the polls.
Grady had been Crist’s regional campaign chairman, resigning after Crist began mulling the decision to break with the Republican party.
But his retirement is going to be very short.
Aug. 29 also happens to be the day Grady will start his new position as the Commissioner of the Office of Financial Regulation. Grady was appointed to the position Tuesday by Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet, seated as the Financial Services Commission.
“I think it is a terrific opportunity for me to continue my practice in the area of securities fraud and regulation,” he said. “I am a fervent believer in free markets.”
The mission of the Office of Financial Regulation is to protect the citizens of Florida by “carrying out the state’s banking, securities and financial laws in an efficient and effective manner and providing business regulation that promotes Florida’s economic development,” according to its web site.
Grady said the office regulates capital.
“Capital is necessary to job creation and all the things I thought were important when I was in the House,” he said. “I really admire Gov. Scott, Attorney General Pam Bondi ... It’s a great cabinet. It was a good opportunity to return to public service.”
Scott, who is Grady’s friend, neighbor and who once chaired Grady’s campaign for the Florida House, said he could think of no better person to serve as the state’s financial regulation commissioner.
“Tom has been centrally involved with the finance and banking industry for nearly three decades and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this post,” he said in a prepared statement. “In addition, he has demonstrated a high standard of integrity in all he has done and holds a deep commitment to serving the people of Florida.”
Grady has practiced law with Naples-based Grady and Associates since 1982, focusing on the areas of securities, investment advisor and financial industry regulation, litigation, arbitration and mediation. He has been active in securities organizations aimed at educating and safeguarding the public and raising the standards of professionalism within the brokerage industries.
Since 1992, Grady has served as a broker/dealer training instructor for the American Arbitration Association, the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange, the National Association of Securities Dealers, the North American Securities Association and Florida’s Office of Financial Regulation Arbitrator Training Programs.
Serving as a public member of the Securities Industry Conference on Arbitration organized by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission from 1995 to 2002, Grady has been a public member emeritus since 2003. He is also a public member emeritus the American Arbitration Association’s Securities Industry Advisory Committee.
“Tom served our state well as a great member of the Legislature and assisted the Attorney General’s Office in increasing our securities enforcement authority,” Bondi said in a statement. “His background and knowledge in banking and securities will help the Office of Financial Regulation protect consumers while balancing the needs of the business and financial community.”
Grady said he has not received direction yet from Scott as to what he would like to see from the Office of Financial Regulation, but said he is sure those issues will be waiting for him when he starts his new job in Tallahassee on Aug. 29.
Grady, who earned his bachelor’s degree from Florida State University and his law degree from Duke University, served one term in the Florida House of Representatives, deciding not to run for reelection in 2010.
In his term as a legislator, Grady worked to file legislation that would allow foreclosure victims to fast-track the process, as well as legislation pertaining to securities regulation and international banking and finance.
But leaving the House didn’t take him out of the political spotlight. Grady sued former Gov. Charlie Crist on behalf of several Republican donors who wanted their donations back after Crist announced he would run for Senate as an independent. Crist’s announcement came after he trailed Sen. Marco Rubio in the polls.
Grady had been Crist’s regional campaign chairman, resigning after Crist began mulling the decision to break with the Republican party.