Legal and compliance work set the pace for this week’s leadership moves, from law firm benches to executive suites. SBC Americas collects the week’s notable appointments, promotions and exits.
This week, Ifrah Law added six professionals and names a new managing partner. Elsewhere, Polymarket reportedly fired its chief marketing officer, Crypto.com named a new compliance chief, and the National Council on Problem Gambling brought in an interim leader.
Ifrah Law adds six and names managing partner
Ifrah Law recruited six professionals across iGaming regulation, litigation, compliance, and operations. The Washington, D.C., firm also appointed Michelle Cohen as managing partner and promoted Sara Dalsheim to counsel. The firm reported especially strong demand for defense against class actions and mass arbitrations.
The new Ifrah Law hires are:
- Sondra Grigsby, member: a trial lawyer with more than 16 years of experience who joins from Kasowitz LLP.
- Andrew Snell, compliance counsel: previously acting legal and compliance manager for a Malta-based online casino group.
- Jerin Horton, chief operating officer: brings more than eight years of law firm management experience.
- Halina Bereday, associate: a former federal law clerk in the District of Wyoming who previously practiced at Norton Rose Fulbright.
- Nicholas Velez, associate: joins from Lowenstein Sandler and served six years in the Marine Corps Reserve.
- Jessica Hawkins, paralegal: joins from Sodexo.
“This is a highly regulated and closely watched industry that’s seeing an increase in high-stakes legal challenges,” said Ifrah Law Founding Member Jeff Ifrah. “Michelle has been central to building our iGaming practice, and is the right leader to guide the firm through its next stage of growth.”
“Our new professionals bring experience from the courtroom, government, private practice and inside the gaming industry,” Cohen said.
Polymarket reportedly ousts marketing chief
Polymarket fired Chief Marketing Officer Matthew Modabber after an internal probe, the New York Post reported last week, citing unnamed sources.
A Polymarket spokeswoman declined to comment, and Modabber did not respond to the Post. No one has confirmed the move on the record.
Modabber became CMO in January 2024. His LinkedIn lists him as the company’s 11th employee. One insider told the Post that Polymarket is finalizing his separation agreement.
The review began earlier this year after several public controversies alarmed investors. In June, the Wall Street Journal reported that Modabber’s team allegedly built a fake webpage to promote staged videos of users profiting from phony trades. The report prompted a Commodity Futures Trading Commission investigation, which is ongoing, and no wrongdoing has been established.
Crypto.com names Mortajine chief compliance officer
Crypto.com hired Mohammed Mortajine as chief compliance officer to strengthen governance, deepen its work with regulators and scale compliance across its global platform. Mortajine held compliance leadership roles at Western Union, ACI Worldwide and Paysafe, and he oversaw programs spanning more than 200 countries and territories.
He will run compliance for a group that offers payment services, derivatives and prediction markets through entities that operate under different rules. He succeeds Antonio Alvarez, who left to join Binance. The hire comes as the House Oversight Committee seeks Crypto.com records on prediction market safeguards, including identity checks and geographic restrictions.
“We are incredibly excited to welcome Mohammed to build the next generation of global financial compliance operations,” Crypto.com CEO Kris Marszalek said. “His deep regulatory expertise, proven executive judgment, and track record of building global compliance programs at scale will be instrumental as we continue building a trusted, disciplined, and high-performing company.”
NCPG turns to interim specialist after Kalshi fallout
The National Council on Problem Gambling named Charles H. Jeffers II interim executive director on Monday, effective immediately.
Jeffers founded The Jeffers Group, a consulting firm that specializes in interim executive leadership, governance and organizational culture.
He replaces Heather Maurer, who resigned after less than a year amid criticism of Kalshi’s $2m, two-year investment in the organization. Regulators in Michigan and Ohio and problem gambling nonprofits in Nevada and Washington all left NCPG over the deal.
Jeffers previously served as interim executive director of the American Occupational Therapy Association and CEO of the Bermuda Tourism Authority.
“Charles’ depth of experience in understanding culture dynamics, operational demands, and board governance is key to our selecting him to lead as Interim Executive Director of NCPG,” said NCPG Board President Derek Longmeier.
Vetted Solutions will lead the search for a permanent executive director, which begins in January 2027.
