17 CFR § 205.5 - Responsibilities of a subordinate attorney.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t17/s205.5"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "17 CFR § 205.5 - Responsibilities of a subordinate attorney."
title_number: 17
title_name: "Commodity and Securities Exchanges"
section_number: "205.5"
section_name: "Responsibilities of a subordinate attorney."
chapter_name: "SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION"
part_number: "205"
part_name: "STANDARDS OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT FOR ATTORNEYS APPEARING AND PRACTICING BEFORE THE COMMISSION IN THE REPRESENTATION OF AN ISSUER"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "15 U.S.C. 77s, 78d-3, 78w, 80a-37, 80a-38, 80b-11, 7202, 7245, and 7262."
regulatory_source: "68 FR 6320, Feb. 6, 2003, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "205"
---


# 205.5 Responsibilities of a subordinate attorney.

(a) An attorney who appears and practices before the Commission in the representation of an issuer on a matter under the supervision or direction of another attorney (other than under the direct supervision or direction of the issuer's chief legal officer (or the equivalent thereof)) is a subordinate attorney.

(b) A subordinate attorney shall comply with this part notwithstanding that the subordinate attorney acted at the direction of or under the supervision of another person.

(c) A subordinate attorney complies with § 205.3 if the subordinate attorney reports to his or her supervising attorney under § 205.3(b) evidence of a material violation of which the subordinate attorney has become aware in appearing and practicing before the Commission.

(d) A subordinate attorney may take the steps permitted or required by § 205.3(b) or (c) if the subordinate attorney reasonably believes that a supervisory attorney to whom he or she has reported evidence of a material violation under § 205.3(b) has failed to comply with § 205.3.