Counsel to Commissioner Hester M. Peirce, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Thaya Brook Knight was associate director of financial regulation studies at the Cato Institute. She is an attorney with extensive experience in securities regulation, small business capital access, and capital markets. Before joining Cato, she co-founded and served as general counsel of CrowdCheck, a company providing due diligence and disclosure services in the online investing market. Following the recent financial crisis, she served as investigative counsel for the congressional oversight panel charged with overseeing the expenditure of Troubled Asset Relief Program funds. She also spent several years with the Washington office of the law firm WilmerHale, where her practice focused on securities litigation, securities enforcement defense, and corporate investigations.
She holds a BA from Middlebury College and a JD from the University of Michigan Law School.
Counsel to Commissioner Hester M. Peirce, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Thaya Brook Knight was associate director of financial regulation studies at the Cato Institute. She is an attorney with extensive experience in securities regulation, small business capital access, and capital markets. Before joining Cato, she co-founded and served as general counsel of CrowdCheck, a company providing due diligence and disclosure services in the online investing market. Following the recent financial crisis, she served as investigative counsel for the congressional oversight panel charged with overseeing the expenditure of Troubled Asset Relief Program funds. She also spent several years with the Washington office of the law firm WilmerHale, where her practice focused on securities litigation, securities enforcement defense, and corporate investigations.
She holds a BA from Middlebury College and a JD from the University of Michigan Law School.
Counsel to Commissioner Hester M. Peirce, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Thaya Brook Knight was associate director of financial regulation studies at the Cato Institute. She is an attorney with extensive experience in securities regulation, small business capital access, and capital markets. Before joining Cato, she co-founded and served as general counsel of CrowdCheck, a company providing due diligence and disclosure services in the online investing market. Following the recent financial crisis, she served as investigative counsel for the congressional oversight panel charged with overseeing the expenditure of Troubled Asset Relief Program funds. She also spent several years with the Washington office of the law firm WilmerHale, where her practice focused on securities litigation, securities enforcement defense, and corporate investigations.
She holds a BA from Middlebury College and a JD from the University of Michigan Law School.
Partner, Kirkland & Ellis
Chris Michel is a litigation partner in the Washington, D.C., office and the leader of the Firm’s Supreme Court and appellate practice. He has argued 11 cases before the Supreme Court and dozens of appeals in federal and state courts. He is widely recognized for his command of issues facing clients in complex litigation, including in the areas of securities, antitrust, technology, administrative law, healthcare and foreign affairs. He has particular experience with constitutional and other appellate issues arising from public nuisance and mass tort cases, including in multidistrict litigation. In 2026 alone, The American Lawyer has recognized Chris five times for appellate victories, including a win before the Delaware Supreme Court in the largest compensation dispute in corporate history. He has also received national recognition from Law360, Chambers USA, Lawdragon and The Legal 500.
Chris has distinctive insight into the Supreme Court, having served over five years in the Office of the Solicitor General at the Department of Justice and clerked for both Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh. He has also served in the Office of the Attorney General, the White House Counsel’s Office and the White House Speechwriting Office, where he drafted more than 500 speeches (including five State of the Union addresses) for President George W. Bush. A native of the San Francisco Bay Area and a graduate of Yale College and Yale Law School, Chris has taught at Georgetown University Law Center and speaks regularly on the Supreme Court and appellate law.
Counsel to Commissioner Hester M. Peirce, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Thaya Brook Knight was associate director of financial regulation studies at the Cato Institute. She is an attorney with extensive experience in securities regulation, small business capital access, and capital markets. Before joining Cato, she co-founded and served as general counsel of CrowdCheck, a company providing due diligence and disclosure services in the online investing market. Following the recent financial crisis, she served as investigative counsel for the congressional oversight panel charged with overseeing the expenditure of Troubled Asset Relief Program funds. She also spent several years with the Washington office of the law firm WilmerHale, where her practice focused on securities litigation, securities enforcement defense, and corporate investigations.
She holds a BA from Middlebury College and a JD from the University of Michigan Law School.
Counsel to Commissioner Hester M. Peirce, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Thaya Brook Knight was associate director of financial regulation studies at the Cato Institute. She is an attorney with extensive experience in securities regulation, small business capital access, and capital markets. Before joining Cato, she co-founded and served as general counsel of CrowdCheck, a company providing due diligence and disclosure services in the online investing market. Following the recent financial crisis, she served as investigative counsel for the congressional oversight panel charged with overseeing the expenditure of Troubled Asset Relief Program funds. She also spent several years with the Washington office of the law firm WilmerHale, where her practice focused on securities litigation, securities enforcement defense, and corporate investigations.
She holds a BA from Middlebury College and a JD from the University of Michigan Law School.
Counsel to Commissioner Hester M. Peirce, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Thaya Brook Knight was associate director of financial regulation studies at the Cato Institute. She is an attorney with extensive experience in securities regulation, small business capital access, and capital markets. Before joining Cato, she co-founded and served as general counsel of CrowdCheck, a company providing due diligence and disclosure services in the online investing market. Following the recent financial crisis, she served as investigative counsel for the congressional oversight panel charged with overseeing the expenditure of Troubled Asset Relief Program funds. She also spent several years with the Washington office of the law firm WilmerHale, where her practice focused on securities litigation, securities enforcement defense, and corporate investigations.
She holds a BA from Middlebury College and a JD from the University of Michigan Law School.
Counsel to Commissioner Hester M. Peirce, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Thaya Brook Knight was associate director of financial regulation studies at the Cato Institute. She is an attorney with extensive experience in securities regulation, small business capital access, and capital markets. Before joining Cato, she co-founded and served as general counsel of CrowdCheck, a company providing due diligence and disclosure services in the online investing market. Following the recent financial crisis, she served as investigative counsel for the congressional oversight panel charged with overseeing the expenditure of Troubled Asset Relief Program funds. She also spent several years with the Washington office of the law firm WilmerHale, where her practice focused on securities litigation, securities enforcement defense, and corporate investigations.
She holds a BA from Middlebury College and a JD from the University of Michigan Law School.
Counsel to Commissioner Hester M. Peirce, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Thaya Brook Knight was associate director of financial regulation studies at the Cato Institute. She is an attorney with extensive experience in securities regulation, small business capital access, and capital markets. Before joining Cato, she co-founded and served as general counsel of CrowdCheck, a company providing due diligence and disclosure services in the online investing market. Following the recent financial crisis, she served as investigative counsel for the congressional oversight panel charged with overseeing the expenditure of Troubled Asset Relief Program funds. She also spent several years with the Washington office of the law firm WilmerHale, where her practice focused on securities litigation, securities enforcement defense, and corporate investigations.
She holds a BA from Middlebury College and a JD from the University of Michigan Law School.
Cyan, Inc. v. Beaver County Employees Retirement Fund - Post-Argument SCOTUScast
Thaya Brook Knight
SCOTUScast featuring Thaya Brook Knight
On November 28, 2017, the Supreme Court heard argument in Cyan, Inc. v. Beaver County...
Bank of America Corp. v. City of Miami - Post-Decision SCOTUScast
Thaya Brook Knight
SCOTUScast 6-2-17 featuring Thaya Brook Knight
On May 1, 2017, the Supreme Court decided Bank of America Corp. v. City of...
Courthouse Steps: D.C. Circuit En Banc Argument - Podcast
Thaya Brook Knight, Christopher G. Michel
Federalism & Separation of Powers Practice Group Podcast
The D.C. Circuit heard a rare doubleheader of en banc arguments on major structural separation...
Bank of America Corp. v. City of Miami - Post-Argument SCOTUScast
Thaya Brook Knight
SCOTUScast 2-15-17 featuring Thaya Brook Knight
On November 8, 2016, the Supreme Court heard oral argument in Bank of America Corp....
Salman v. United States - Post-Decision SCOTUScast
Thaya Brook Knight
SCOTUScast 12-21-16 featuring Thaya Brook Knight
On December 6, 2016, the Supreme Court decided Salman v. United States. Bassam Yacoub Salman...
Insider Trading & the Rule of Law
Thaya Brook Knight
Short video featuring Thaya Brook Knight
Insider trading is a serious crime, yet why is there no statute that explicitly prohibits...
Salman v. United States - Post-Argument SCOTUScast
Thaya Brook Knight
SCOTUScast 11-3-16 featuring Thaya Brook Knight
On October 5, 2016, the Supreme Court heard oral argument in Salman v. United States. Bassam...
Salman v. United States (The Insider Trading Case)
Thaya Brook Knight
Short video featuring Thaya Brook Knight
How will the Supreme Court rule on a new insider trading case? Thaya Brook Knight,...