Kathe Espinili - Chief Compliance Officer, Partner

Kathe began working with Derek Lewis in 1990 and played an integral role in the formation and registration of JDL Securities Corporation in 1991. In 2006, she helped guide the transition of J. Derek Lewis & Associates to an SEC-registered investment adviser.

With more than four decades of experience in the financial services industry, Kathe oversees JDL’s compliance program and helps the firm navigate the complex and continually evolving regulatory environment. Her responsibilities extend beyond compliance to include technology, operations, and firmwide problem-solving, drawing on her extensive knowledge of both the regulatory and operational sides of the business.

Prior to joining JDL, Kathe worked with several prominent brokerage firms, including Oppenheimer & Co., Smith Barney, Drexel Burnham Lambert, and Shearson Lehman Hutton. She became a Registered Representative in 1984 and a Registered Principal in 1993.



Outside of the office, Kathe enjoys spending time with her husband and family. Her interests include quilting and researching family history.