David M. Becker

David M. Becker was an American lawyer and a partner of Cleary Gottlieb. He was twice General Counsel and Senior Policy Director of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

History Becker graduated from Columbia College (1968) and Columbia University Law School (1973), where he was editor-in-chief of the Columbia Law Review. He then was a law clerk for Judge Harold Leventhal of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, then a year later, for Justice Stanley Reed of the U.S. Supreme Court. He resigned the second posting in 2011.

SEC Inspector General H. David Kotz discovered that, despite having a conflict of interest, Becker had worked on the Madoff investment scandal investigation; specifically, the Becker family had received a $2 million inheritance previously invested in a Madoff account. Kotz referred the matter to the U.S. Justice Department's criminal division. The Justice Department declined to pursue the matter.

SEC chairwoman Mary Schapiro then stated about the incident, "I wish that Mr. Becker had recused himself, absolutely."

In 2011, Becker rejoined Cleary Gottlieb as a partner.