Leo G. Rydzewski, JD, CAE

Leo has been CFP Board’s General Counsel since January 2015. Among his responsibilities, Leo oversees the adjudication and interpretation of CFP Board’s Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct as well as CFP Board's public policy engagement. Leo’s accomplishments include:

• Working with CFP Board’s Commission on Standards and Board of Directors, developing the revised Code and Standards, pursuant to which CFP® professionals make a commitment to CFP Board to act in the best interest of their clients at all times when providing financial advice;
• Leading the staff effort to overhaul CFP Board’s Procedural Rules that apply to the enforcement of CFP Board’s Code and Standards;
• Working with CFP Board’s Standards Resource Commission, developing a comprehensive library of guidance resources that interpret and apply the Code and Standards;
• Working with CFP Board’s Commission on Sanctions and Fitness to develop recommendations to modernize and harmonize the Sanction Guidelines and Fitness Standards for Candidates and Former CFP® Professionals Seeking Reinstatement; and
• Successfully defending CFP Board, as outside counsel, in federal court litigation that challenged CFP Board’s ability to enforce its Code and Standards.

Prior to joining CFP Board, Leo was a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of the global law firm Holland & Knight LLP. He previously served as a law clerk to U.S. District Court Judge Federico A. Moreno, in the Southern District of Florida.

Leo received his Juris Doctor from Florida State University College of Law, where he graduated summa cum laude, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Georgetown University. In 2020, Leo earned the Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential.