OCC Attorneys Jeff Gillespie and Karen Solomon Assume New Responsibilities

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) announced today the appointment of Jeff Gillespie as Assistant Chief Counsel and Karen Solomon as Director of the Legislative and Regulatory Activities Division.

"Jeff and Karen have made important contributions to the OCC's regulatory review efforts to reduce unnecessary burden on national banks," said Chief Counsel Julie Williams. "I will continue to rely on them heavily in our efforts to improve and modernize the regulatory structure for national banks."

Gillespie will supervise electronic money and banking projects within the OCC law department and other special projects that involve multiple areas of the law department. He will also focus on other policy issues assigned by the Chief Counsel. 

Solomon will lead staff attorneys on the OCC's regulatory review project to reduce regulatory burden on national banks. She will also be responsible for legal issues related to legislation. She will report to Deputy Chief Counsel Ray Natter.

Gillespie most recently served in the position that Karen Solomon is assuming. Prior to that assignment, he served in other divisions of the OCC's law department, including litigation, corporate organization and resolutions, and legal advisory services. Gillespie joined the OCC in 1979. He holds a J.D. from Indiana University, where he graduated summa cum laude, and a B.A. from Ohio Wesleyan University.

Solomon most recently served as Assistant Director of the Legislative and Regulatory Activities Division. Prior to joining the OCC in 1995, Solomon was Deputy Chief Counsel and the Director of the Regulations and Legislation Division at the Office of Thrift Supervision. Solomon has also been in private practice in Washington, D.C. and was a member of the faculty of the Catholic University School of Law, Washington, D.C. She earned a law degree and a B.A. in Latin from the Catholic University.