Michael J. Canning
Principal and Founder
Mike Canning is the Principal and Founder of the LXR Group, a public policy consultancy in Washington, D.C. that specializes in financial regulatory policy. Mike earned the Certified Regulatory and Compliance Professional (CRCP) designation, in December 2021.
Director of Policy and Government Affairs
Prior to founding LXR, Mike spent nearly a decade working for the Washington, D.C. based North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) in a number of senior policy roles, including serving as the Associations Director of Policy from 2011-2016, and Director of Policy and Government Affairs from 2016-2021.
During his decade at NASAA, Mike served as the association’s primary liaison to Congress. In that capacity he oversaw all of the organization’s communications with Congress regarding hundreds of legislative policy matters. He oversaw the drafting of written testimony and preparation of witnesses for nearly two dozen Congressional hearings. These included hearings before:
- the Senate Banking Committee
- the House Financial Services Committee
- the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee
- the Senate Special Committee on Aging
- other Congressional committees
Mike was also responsible for a variety of advocacy campaigns, including on behalf of policy reforms related to:
- retirement security
- fiduciary obligations of financial professionals
- mandatory pre-dispute arbitration contracts
- corporate finance and capital formation
- digital assets and cryptocurrency
- senior investor protection
- cybersecurity and technology innovation
- investment adviser registration and examination
Mike conducted significant advocacy relating to state legislative matters, and helped oversee the development and adoption of three model state laws.
In addition, during his tenure Mike served as a senior Corporate Office representative on a number of key NASAA Board committees, including:
- Committee on Federal Legislation
- Committee on State Legislation
- Committee on Fintech
- Committee on Cyber Security
- Committee on Seniors and Diminished Capacity
Senior Policy Advisor on Capitol Hill
Prior to joining NASAA in 2011, Mike spent nine years serving in a variety of roles on Capitol Hill, including serving from 2007-2010 as Senior Policy Advisor to a top member of the U.S. House Financial Services Committee, and previously as a member of the Associate Staff of the U.S. House Committee on the Budget.
During his years on the Hill, Mike was involved with numerous financial regulatory proposals considered by Congress, including proposals enacted under the Dodd-Frank Act of 2010.
Mike helped spearhead Congressional efforts to establish an independent consumer financial protection regulator. He worked with a broad coalition of stakeholders to develop and introduce the first such bill in 2009. He coordinated with lawmakers and stakeholders throughout the considerations of such legislation by Congress, ultimately enacted in July 2010.
Mike also played key roles in drafting other significant Dodd-Frank Act reforms, including provisions strengthening federal mortgage lending protections for consumers, and modernizing regulatory oversight of “systemically significant” financial institutions.
Mike holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of the Holy Cross and a Master of Public Affairs degree from Brown University. He lives in Silver Spring, MD with his wife and two children.
