Michele Underwood

Michele Underwood is a partner of Keesal, Young & Logan in its Long Beach office.  Ms. Underwood primarily handles securities defense matters.  She has extensive experience with litigation in federal and state courts, and all securities arbitration forums.  Ms. Underwood represents clients in regulatory matters before the SEC, FINRA, and California Department of Corporations.  Ms. Underwood consults with securities clients on a regular basis regarding compliance issues, supervision, and broker-dealer internal compliance audits.

Ms. Underwood’s securities experience was cultivated over nearly ten years at E.F. Hutton & Company as the Certified Branch Operations Manager for a complex of three office locations.  Ms. Underwood’s job duties included supervision of operations, compliance, operational training, and handling all personnel matters for the three-office complex.  She was licensed with the NASD/NYSE as a registered representative, as well as the California Department of Insurance as a Life & Disability agent.  While attending law school, Ms. Underwood interned for the Securities and Exchange Commission in Los Angeles, conducting research for enforcement attorneys.

Ms. Underwood has been a speaker on various securities compliance topics for firm clients, FINRA, National Society of Compliance Professionals, and Practicing Law Institute.

Ms. Underwood received her B.A. degree from the University of California, Irvine in 1980, and her J.D. (cum laude) from Western State University in 1987.  She was admitted to the California Bar in 1988.

Ms. Underwood was recognized as a Southern California “Super Lawyer” by Law & Practice Magazine in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015.

Practice Areas

• Securities