Golden Finance reports that Megan Barbero, chief legal officer and general counsel of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), will leave her job next week, joining the wave of departures of senior officials of the agency who have been responsible for legal battles with the encryption industry in the past few years. Regarding Barbero’s departure, SEC Chairman Gary Gensler said in a statement: “Her thoughtful advice and judgment were critical to the Commission’s decision-making.” Barbero’s departure is scheduled for January 20, coinciding with the election of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. Trump was sworn in. Barbero is the agency’s chief legal officer, responsible for how the legal department handles disputes with crypto companies in federal court and advising on their enforcement positions. Effective February 2023, she serves as General Counsel. The SEC’s enforcement chief Gurbir Grewal resigned in October, while Paul Munter, the accounting chief responsible for the agency’s controversial crypto accounting policies, also announced his departure this week.