CONTACT INFORMATION

Chicago t 312.258.5707 f 312.258.5600 E-mail Download vCard

PRACTICE AREAS

BAR ADMISSIONS

  • Illinois
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

News

Carl A. Royal

Of Counsel

Carl A. Royal emphasizes his practice on derivatives and the regulation of markets and market participants under federal securities and commodities laws.

He has represented derivatives dealers and end-users in a wide range of derivatives transactions, from interest rate swaps, to variable prepaid stock purchase agreements with caps and floors. He is familiar with both exchange-traded derivatives (futures and options) and with International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. (ISDA) documentation used for privately negotiated swap transactions.

Mr. Royal formerly was Senior Vice President and General Counsel with the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME), the largest futures exchange in the world. At the CME, Mr. Royal was responsible for drafting the rules for Globex, the CME’s electronic trading system, and for obtaining Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and international regulatory approvals for Globex. He has extensive national and international experience with respect to commodities, futures, and securities market products, services, and regulatory compliance. This includes:

  • Negotiating significant transactions
  • Implementing strategic plans
  • Obtaining regulatory approvals for new products and systems
  • Drafting and amending rules
  • Advising boards of directors and senior management

In addition to the CME, Mr. Royal's representations have included:

  • National securities exchanges
  • Banks
  • Clearing organizations
  • Broker-dealers
  • Investment advisers
  • Futures commission merchants

He also has broad experience in corporate and securities law.

Publications

"Broker-Dealer Compliance Issues for Security Futures," Wall Street Lawyer (January 2003)
 
"New Legislation Creates Exemption for B2B Markets," @MARKETS (2001)
 
"Best Execution, Competition and Payment for Order Flow," Futures & Derivatives Law Report (2000)
 
"Automated Trading of Futures and Options," Review of Securities and Commodities Regulation (1988)
 

Speeches and Presentations

"OTC Derivatives," (panelist) 28th Annual FIA Law & Compliance Division Workshop, Baltimore, Md. (May 12, 2006)
 
"Swaps and OTC Derivatives," CBA Futures and Derivatives Law Seminar, Chicago (Feb. 20, 2003)
 
"Regulation of Cross-Border Access to Futures Exchanges," ABA Committee on Futures and Derivative Instruments, Winter Meeting, Key West, Fla. (Feb. 8, 2003)
 
"Exchange Issues with Single-Stock Futures," (panelist) 23rd Annual FIA Law & Compliance Division Workshop, Baltimore, Md. (May 10, 2001)
 
"Regulatory Issues Associated with Electronic Trading," CBA Futures and Derivatives Law Seminar, Chicago (Feb. 23, 1999)
 

Pro Bono Activities

Mr. Royal is a volunteer attorney for the Pro Bono Center for Disability and Elder Law.

Awards and Honors

Best Lawyers In America, Derivatives and Futures Law
Leading Lawyer - Corporate Finance Law; Securities and Venture Finance Law, Illinois Leading Lawyers Network

Education

Yale Law School(J.D., 1974)
Wabash College(B.A., History, magna cum laude, 1971)

Professional Memberships

American Bar Association
Section of Business Law
       Committee on Regulation of Futures and Derivative Instruments
Chicago Bar Association
Futures and Derivatives Law Committee
       Past Chair