The Securities and Exchange Commission has tapped Erin Schneider, a veteran lawyer in the agency's enforcement division, as the new director of its San Francisco regional office.

Schneider, who joined the SEC in 2005 as a staff attorney in San Francisco, since 2015 has headed up enforcement in the regional office. Her work has included high-profile enforcement actions involving Tesla and its CEO Elon Musk, fraud allegations against Theranos and its founder Elizabeth Holmes, and a $35 million settlement over Yahoo Inc.'s inadequate disclosures about a series of data breaches.

“It's a privilege to have been selected to serve in this new role in San Francisco,” said Schneider in a press release announcing her appointment. “Over my career at the SEC, I have been continually impressed by the commitment, integrity and enthusiasm demonstrated by the San Francisco examination and enforcement staff every day. I look forward to continuing and building upon San Francisco's strong tradition of proactive and productive efforts to protect investors.”

In her new role, Schneider will lead the office's staff of more than 125 enforcement attorneys, accountants, investigators and compliance examiners based in San Francisco. The office handles the investigation and prosecution of enforcement actions in Northern California, Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Montana and Idaho. as well as compliance inspections with registrants across the region.

Schneider previously served as the associate regional director in the office under prior director Jina Choi. Choi, who left the director's post last year, has since joined Morrison & Foerster as a partner.

Prior to joining the SEC, Schneider worked as a litigation associate in the Washington, D.C., and San Francisco offices of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, and as an auditor at PricewaterhouseCoopers. She holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of California at Berkeley and a law degree from UC Hastings College of the Law.