A former partner at a New York City-based firm that represents large institutional investors in complex class action securities lawsuits is joining New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman's office, with two other new hires.

Cynthia Hanawalt is the AG's new chief enforcement officer for the Investor Protection Bureau. Her first day was Monday.

The move may signal Schneiderman is getting ready to take the lead in legal actions against financial services companies for violations of securities laws if the federal government backs off such cases under the Trump administration.