Goldman Sachs names Michael Bosworth acting general counsel after Ruemmler exit

Goldman Sachs named Michael Bosworth acting general counsel on July 1, replacing Kathryn Ruemmler after her June 30 departure, a move that keeps one of the bank’s most sensitive control jobs close to the executive core. The legal seat at a global bank affects how quickly Goldman can approve products, handle disclosures, manage employment issues, and escalate risk when something goes wrong.

Bosworth arrives with a long litigation and government background that signals continuity more than reinvention. He joined Goldman in 2022 as a partner, serves on the Enterprise Risk Committee, and is counsel to the Firmwide Client Franchise Committee. Before that, he was a partner and co-chair of the New York Litigation and Trial Department at Latham & Watkins LLP. Earlier in his career, he served as deputy assistant and deputy counsel to President Barack H. Obama, special counsel to the FBI director, and co-chief of the Complex Frauds Unit in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.

The appointment closes a fraught chapter for Goldman’s governance team. Ruemmler’s resignation became effective June 30 after months of scrutiny over her past correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein. In June, Elizabeth Warren and Raja Krishnamoorthi pressed CEO David Solomon over reports that he had wanted to keep Ruemmler on as an adviser despite the Epstein ties. In their letter, they cited Justice Department materials released on January 30, 2026, and said the emails showed contact between Ruemmler and Epstein from 2014 to 2019. They also listed gifts they said she reportedly accepted, including a $9,350 Hermès handbag, $10,000 in Bergdorf Goodman gift cards, a $4,200 Fendi coat, and an Apple Watch.

Goldman has been tightening the link between control functions and senior management. On May 5, 2026, the firm said Ericka Leslie would become chief administrative officer, remain on the Management Committee, and help drive OneGS 3.0, Goldman’s effort to transform the operating system and create more capacity to invest in growth. That same update elevated Stephan Feldgoise and Joshua Schiffrin to the Management Committee, underscoring that the bank is making room at the top for operating, legal, and risk leaders rather than treating them as back-office support.

For employees, the shift is less about titles than about how decisions get made inside a bank where internal review can shape the pace of business. Goldman’s code of conduct says integrity and reputation go hand in hand and describes a firmwide framework for conduct risk management. Bosworth’s appointment suggests the firm wants legal oversight that can move quickly, preserve governance continuity, and help the executive office push ahead without letting the Ruemmler episode linger over daily operations. Goldman, founded in 1869 and headquartered in New York, had already said in its 2025 annual report that it delivered strong performance in a year marked by uncertainty and disruption, and that it was positioned well for 2026.