Alexander M. Madrid Partner

Alex’s investigation and enforcement defense experience stems from his service as both in-house and outside counsel to one of the nation’s largest broker-dealers, managing a broad range of regulatory matters. He frequently represents firms and financial advisors in inquiries and enforcement actions brought by the SEC, FINRA, and other regulators. He has represented clients in large-scale investigations and enforcement actions concerning systemic unauthorized trading, market manipulation, insider trading, LIBOR manipulation, variable annuities, compliance with books and records requirements, and electronic trading rules.

Alex also represents major financial institutions and other companies in complex securities litigation, class actions, and arbitration. He represented multiple high-profile financial institutions in litigation resulting from the credit crisis, including lawsuits over residential mortgage-backed securities, collateralized debt obligations, and other complex products. He has also represented clients in class actions related to investment of client assets in proprietary mutual funds, employee stock ownership plans, and alleged violations of state and federal consumer protection statutes, among other matters. Alex’s arbitration practice concentrates on defending clients in FINRA arbitration. Alex has served as lead counsel in arbitrations related to share class selection, investment suitability, variable annuities, and employment disputes.

In addition to these areas of focus, Alex litigates a broad array of commercial disputes and represents clients in all stages of litigation. As part of his energy practice, Alex represented and served as trial counsel to an interstate pipeline company in precedent-setting litigation under the Natural Gas Act.

Alex is a fluent Spanish speaker and member of various Hispanic Bar Associations. In 2022, Alex was selected as a Fellow for the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity. Alex was also previously selected to the Collaborative Bar Leadership Academy, a joint initiative of several national Bar Associations to provide leadership training and professional development to diverse lawyers.

Alex maintains a dedicated pro bono practice, representing clients seeking asylum, protection under the Convention Against Torture, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, and other forms of relief under immigration law.

Alex also serves as an Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Pittsburgh Law School, where he teaches on the law, policy, and practice of domestic arbitration.

Prior to working at McGuireWoods, Alex was an associate at a prominent international law firm in New York. Alex is a graduate of Yale Law School, where he served as an Editor on the Yale Law Journal. While at Yale Law School, Alex was a student director of the Legal Services for Immigrant Communities Clinic and Vice President of the Latino Law Students Association.