Ryan Lester

Managing Director and Americas Head, Regulatory Practice Group Goldman, Sachs & Co.

As Americas Head of the Regulatory Practice Group – Securities at Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Mr. Lester oversees the firm’s U.S.-based team that represents Goldman Sachs in regulatory examinations and inquiries conducted by the SEC, CFTC, FINRA, NFA and other non-prudential regulators.  Prior to assuming his current role, Mr. Lester also oversaw Goldman Sachs’ Government Interactions Compliance team, which advises firm businesses on contacts with federal, state and local governmental entities and their employees to help ensure compliance with lobbyist registration, reporting and disclosure requirements.  Mr. Lester is a member of SIFMA’s Compliance and Regulatory Policy Committee.

Before joining Goldman Sachs, Mr. Lester was a senior associate at the law firm of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, where he was a member of the firm’s litigation practice.  Prior to his time at Orrick, Mr. Lester held fellowships with the Economic Section of the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan, and with the Coordinator of Economic and Environmental Affairs at the OSCE in Vienna, Austria.

Mr. Lester serves on the Board of Directors of Indego Africa, a social enterprise that provides U.S. market access and economic opportunities to artisan communities in Rwanda and Ghana.

Mr. Lester received his J.D. from Stanford Law School, his Masters in International Affairs from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, and his B.A. from Vassar College.