Securities Regulation Defense

Inquiries, investigations and formal proceedings are becoming more common for todays’ financial advisory firms, representatives and independent advisers. The Firm has successfully assisted financial advisers and firms in obtaining “No Action” letters from FINRA and several state regulators for allegations which, if proven, would have resulted in severe sanctions.

For those matters not so easily resolved, the Firm has a keen understanding of the applicable sanction guidelines and has negotiated settlements of regulatory investigations which have kept advisers and Firms in business.

Craig Zafis is appointed as panel counsel for specialty insurance companies who insure firms and their registered representatives. During the last 20 years Mr. Zafis has defended many firms and representatives in securities arbitrations. Those proceedings included products such as TICs, structured notes, direct participation products and other alternative investments, including oil and gas, mortgage backed securities and leveraged and inverse ETFs and mutual funds, annuities, stocks, bonds and conventional mutual funds. The matters included allegations of fraud, unsuitability, over concentration and lack of diversification, violation of securities laws, forgery, elder abuse, failure to supervise, lack of due diligence, conflicts of interest, theft and conversion, and alleged penny stock pump and dump schemes, among others.