Michael Masone

Michael is a Director and the Head of North America Market Structure for the Markets Division in North America (NAM Markets). Prior to assuming this expanded role in early 2021, Michael had been focused specifically on Market Structure issues in the Equities and Listed Options markets, but has increasingly assumed responsibility for cross-asset Market Structure strategy and advocacy as well. From 2005-17, Michael had been a corporate lawyer advising the Americas Equities Sales & Trading business, acting as co-head of Legal coverage since 2008. During that time, he advised several institutional equities sales & trading businesses on a variety of legal, regulatory and technology issues, with a particular focus on Equity Market Structure. Michael was the Chair of SIFMA’s Equity Markets & Trading Committee from 2017-19, having served as Vice Chair from 2015-16. He also represents Citi on numerous other industry committees and working groups (including ICI, MFA, STA, FIF) addressing particular policy and regulatory issues. Michael frequently meets with Commissioners and Staff of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Members and Staff of the U.S. Congress, FINRA and the exchanges, as well as clients of the firm. His move from Legal into the business has allowed Michael to devote even more of his time to implementing Citi’s Market Structure and liquidity strategy across NAM Markets.

Career Path:

Before going to law school, Michael worked as a volunteer high school teacher in Baton Rouge, a financial journalist for Bloomberg, and a paralegal with Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP. Following law school, he spent five years as an associate in the Corporate Department of Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP in New York. There his practice focused on venture capital, M&A and outsourcing engagements. Michael then joined Citi in 2005 and was asked to co-head the Americas Equities Legal group in 2008. He also helped coordinate Citi’s in-house pro bono efforts for several years before joining the business in 2017.

Michael holds a J.D. from the Georgetown University Law Center and a B.A., cum laude, from the University of Notre Dame.