The Law of the Financial Markets from Top Securities Lawyers
Wednesday, May 21, 2025
By Mark J. Astarita, Esq. SEC Charges in Crypto Fraud Cases: NanoBit and CoinW6 Scams Unveiled Despite my decades of representing investors, financial professionals, and their firms, there is a case that surprises me every so often. This case starts like many others. The SEC filed a case against five […]
By: Mark J. Astarita, Esq. Defending an SEC Investigation Do you need an SEC Investigation Attorney? The answer is probably yes, since facing an SEC investigation can be intimidating for individuals or organizations, and defending against it requires expertise and insight. The SEC is a powerful regulatory entity that can […]
A security is a form of ownership in an entity. While some believe that in order to be a security the instrument must be traded on a market, the legal definition of a security is much broader. The definition is important, because if the instrument is a security, then the federal and state securities laws apply to the purchase and sale of that instrument. We define and explain the different types of securities
The SEC Serves a Subpoena, or FINRA wants an OTR. Now what? By Mark J. Astarita, Esq. Introduction to SEC Subpoenas If you get a letter, phone call, or subpoena from the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) or FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority), take it seriously. Even if the person […]
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 […]
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 […]
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. […]
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 […]
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 […]
