Protecting the Public Is All in a Day's Work; Securities and Exchange Commission's New York Head Takes Fraud Investigations and Controversy in Stride

Friedman, Jon, American Banker

IRA LEE SORKIN IS NOT SHY. Mr. Sorkin, the Securities and Exchange Commission's top administrator in New York, keeps a sign saying, "Damn, I'm Good," in a prominent position in his office at 26 Federal Plaza.

The 42-year-old securities lawyer, a cheerful workaholic who lives on Long Island with his wife and two children, frequently calls the mediato alert financial reporters of his office's latest filing against an individual or a company suspected of malfeasance.

Most of all, "Ike" Sorking is not shy about aggressively protecting the sanctity of the financial markets and the welfare of investors -- his mandates.

"I love this job -- the work, protecting the public," he says, in a characteristic outpouring of pride.

"We get to see so much here -- insider trading, market manipulation, stock-loan fraud," he adds. "I'm not sure there's much more we can do."

Since Mr. Sorkin was sworn in on May 14, 1984 -- replacing Donald Malawsky, now a senior vice president at the New York Stock Exchange -- he also has seen his share of …

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Publication information: Article title: Protecting the Public Is All in a Day's Work; Securities and Exchange Commission's New York Head Takes Fraud Investigations and Controversy in Stride. Contributors: Friedman, Jon - Author. Magazine title: American Banker. Volume: 150. Publication date: December 4, 1985. Page number: 13. © 2009 SourceMedia, Inc. COPYRIGHT 1985 Gale Group.

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