Securities Arbitration is not like any other proceeding Background Arbitration is a dispute resolution process, which is an alternative to the traditional lawsuit in court. Rather than have a matter decided by a judge and jury, participants to an arbitration proceeding have their dispute resolved by an impartial panel […]
Featured Articles
FINRA Rule 8210 – Avoiding Enforcement Proceedings
By Mark J. Astarita, Esq. FINRA Rule 8210 FINRA Rule 8210 (Provision of Information and Testimony and Inspection and Copying of Books) is the starting point of virtually every FINRA enforcement proceeding, as it gives FINRA the authority to request documents and testimony from firms, registered persons and, in FINRA’s […]
FINRA 2022 Exam Priorities
It is always good to know what regulators are going to focus on, and to prepare for that exam. Today FINRA released its 2022 Report on Examination and Risk Monitoring Program (the Report). While not a road map it provides firms with information that may help inform their compliance programs. […]
SEC Subpoena, FINRA OTR – What do I do?
The SEC Serves a Subpoena, or FINRA wants an OTR. Now what? By Mark J. Astarita, Esq. Introduction to SEC Subpoenas If you are served with an SEC Subpoena, or just receive a letter or telephone call from the SEC or FINRA 8210 Request, that call or subpoena is a […]
Securities Lawyer Mark J. Astarita’s Significant Matters
Obtained decision from FINRA’s National Adjudicatory Council which reversed a hearing Panel’s findings of violation, vacated all sanctions and dismissed the complaint. Successfully defended broker-dealer in arbitration with hedge fund claiming 5 million dollars in losses for misrepresentations regarding firm’s abilities, platform, and expertise. Zero award for the Claimant. Obtained […]
How Long Does an SEC Investigation Take?
SEC investigations can be a harrowing experience for the witness as well as the targets. One of the first questions my clients ask when faced with a subpoena from the SEC is how long is this going to take? While I hate to give the typical lawyer answer, that answer […]
Responding to a Wells Notice
By Mark Astarita Being the subject, target, or even a witness in an SEC or a FINRA investigation is not a pleasant experience. As I discussed in my column “When the SEC Comes Calling” a financial professional’s involvement in a regulatory investigation or proceeding is extremely serious, and can be […]
Churned or Traded?
Churning claims dominated the securities arbitration landscape in the 2000’s, but have declined over the years, as the trading mania waned. As the markets improved, we have begun to see a resurgence of churning claims again. The common perception among the general public is that a customer who trades his […]
Cold Calling Rules
Compliance with securities regulations is only the beginning By Mark J. Astarita, Esq. Introduction Cold calling is a method of marketing a service or product by calling prospective clients “cold” – that is, without an introduction, to determine if the potential client has a need for, or interest in, the […]
Finders Explained – Be Careful
A question I am often asked is what is the definition of a finder, or questions that lead to that question. The issue arises when an unregistered person or entity introduces investors to an issuer and seeks to obtain payment based on the investment made by the investor. The problem […]