Pimco names successor general counsel

Pimco has named Sung-Hee Suh as the active fixed-income firm’s global general counsel, effective January 1.

Suh is a managing director who is currently Pimco’s general counsel for global regulatory matters and litigation. She will take up her new role following the retirement of David Flattum, who has been in the position for the past 17 years. Flattum will remain with Pimco as a consultant throughout 2024.

Suh joined Pimco in 2018 from White & Case, where she was head of the law firm’s New York white-collar litigation practice. Before moving into private practice she was deputy assistant attorney general for the criminal division of the US Department of Justice, where she oversaw securities fraud, FCPA and other federal criminal cases.

During her time at Pimco, Suh has been an executive sponsor of the firm’s employee resource group focused on developing and giving voice to its Asian and Pacific Islander employees. She will be a member of Pimco’s 2024 managing director inclusion & diversity advisory council.

While at Pimco, Flattum has held other leadership roles such as chair of the audit committee and the global risk committee and has overseen the expansion of Pimco’s legal and compliance teams. Before joining in 2006, Flattum was managing director, US general counsel and COO of the firm’s parent company Allianz Asset Management of America. Before that, he was a partner at Latham & Watkins, where he specialized in M&A.

Pimco CEO Emmanuel Roman says in a statement: ‘Sung-Hee is a remarkable attorney and leader with a rich and varied career in many areas of law, including both the prosecution and defense of white-collar criminal cases, commercial litigation and regulatory oversight and enforcement. She is a strong voice and leader who has managed complex legal and regulatory issues and is also a collaborative colleague, mentor and advocate for Pimco employees.

‘I want to thank David for his invaluable contributions to Pimco and our clients during his 17 years at the firm. He has been a highly effective and thoughtful legal voice as Pimco has grown and has played a critical role during challenging periods like the great financial crisis.’