SEC enforcement investigations cover a wide range of targets and witnesses, from the big investment banks and their employees, to public companies to private companies who are soliciting investments, small companies. The SEC conducts its investigations privately, and does so by requesting voluntary cooperation or issuing subpoenas for documents and […]
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Arbitration, Brokers, Featured Articles, Investors, Primer
What is Securities Arbitration?
Securities arbitration has become the most often-used method of resolving disputes in the securities industry. Since the late 1970’s, FINRA and its predecessors have required brokerage firms and stock brokers into securities arbitration to resolve their disputes with each other, and with their customers. That requirement led to brokerage firms […]
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Whistleblower
Understanding the SEC Whistleblower Program
A look into the workings of the SEC Whistleblower Program. Is it any surprise that Whistleblowers who are represented by securities attorneys might do better presenting tips than those who are represented by non-securities attorneys? What is the SEC Whistleblower Program? The SEC Whistleblower Program is a vital component […]
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FAQ, Featured Articles, Investors, Primer, Securities Law Dictionary
What is a Security?
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
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Brokers, Compliance
SEC Subpoenas – Tips for Responding – 2025
How you respond to an SEC subpoena makes a difference. Tips from an experienced securities attorney.
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Brokers, Compliance, Whistleblower
Whistleblowers Need Lawyers
By Mark J. Astarita, Esq. Navigate the SEC whistleblower process with our comprehensive guide. Learn how to report financial misconduct confidently and protect your identity. A detailed walkthrough ensures you understand each stage, empowering you to play a crucial role in maintaining integrity in the financial sector. The SEC whistleblower […]
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Enforcement, Primer
Can The SEC Bring Criminal Charges?
While the SEC has extremely broad investigative and enforcement powers, it cannot file criminal charges. It can, and often does, work with the Department of Justice and the United States Attorney’s Office to bring those charges. The SEC and the DOJ often work together, with the SEC sending its more […]
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News
Robinhood’s CEO is not Licensed?
CNN is reporting that the CEO of Robinhood is not licensed with FINRA and implies that he is required to be licensed and that it is a “big deal” that he is not licensed. CNN is correct that absent an exemption, FINRA requires senior executives of a broker-dealer, including the […]
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News
Three Fallacies Of Wealth Creation, And Three Antidotes
Three Fallacies Of Wealth Creation, And Three Antidotes If you can see through these misperceptions about assets, you can be a better investor. #seclaw #securitiesattorney #securitieslawyer https://www.forbes.com/sites/baldwin/2021/03/20/three-fallacies-of-wealth-creation-and-three-antidotes/ —– Coast-to-coast representation of investors and financial professionals – Securities Lawyer
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Arbitration, Investors, News
End Mandatory Arbitration?
Elizabeth Warren has once again taken up the charge to end pre-dispute arbitration agreements, which she calls “forced arbitration.” I have addressed the topic on numerous occasions and while I am a fan of arbitration, pre-dispute arbitration agreements can be an issue, particularly in consumer cases, such as car rental […]
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News
SEC Issues Amendments, Seeks Public Comment on Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act
The Securities and Exchange Commission has adopted interim final amendments to implement congressionally mandated submission and disclosure requirements of the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act (HFCA Act). The interim final amendments will apply to registrants that the Commission identifies as having filed an annual report on Forms 10-K, 20-F, 40-F, […]
Recent Posts
Financial Professionals
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SEC’s Division of Investment Management to Host Third Annual Conference on Emerging Trends in Asset Management
May 27, 2025The Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Investment Management announced it will host the third annual Conference [...] -
FINRA Proposes Changes to Reporting Outside Business Activities
May 6, 2025FINRA Regulatory Notice 25-05, issued on March 14, 2025, proposes consolidating Rules 3270 and 3280 into a single [...] -
By Building Wealth, Investors Power U.S. Economy
April 2, 2025How Investing Fuels the U.S. Economy and Builds Your Financial Future The SEC Shines a Light on Investing During National [...] -
Should Brokers and Firms Share a Lawyer?
March 31, 2025By Mark J. Astarita, Esq. A repeating question on my website comes from brokers who are named in an arbitration proceeding by [...]
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Tips for a Successful Securities Mediation
February 19, 2025Tips for a Successful Securities Mediation Securities arbitration is a proven method for resolving disputes in the securities [...] -
SEC Seeks Candidates for Membership on the Investor Advisory Committee
February 15, 2025The Securities and Exchange Commission is seeking candidates for appointment as members of the SEC’s Investor Advisory [...]
- Advisers Settle SEC Charges for Acting as Unregistered Brokers
- An SEC Subpoena, FINRA OTR. 2025 Update.
- What Happens If I Ignore an SEC Subpoena?
Investors
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SEC Releases New Data on Broker-Dealers, M&A, and BDCs: Key Insights for Investors
June 29, 2025On June 26, 2025, the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Economic and Risk Analysis (DERA) published new reports [...] -
SEC’s Division of Investment Management to Host Third Annual Conference on Emerging Trends in Asset Management
May 27, 2025The Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Investment Management announced it will host the third annual Conference [...] -
By Building Wealth, Investors Power U.S. Economy
April 2, 2025How Investing Fuels the U.S. Economy and Builds Your Financial Future The SEC Shines a Light on Investing During National [...] -
What is a Ponzi Scheme
March 26, 2025A
SEC Extends Compliance Dates for Amendments to Investment Company Names Rule
March 15, 2025SEC Grants Six-Month Extension for Fund Name Compliance Deadlines Washington, D.C., March 14, 2025 – The Securities and [...]Tips for a Successful Securities Mediation
February 19, 2025Tips for a Successful Securities Mediation Securities arbitration is a proven method for resolving disputes in the securities [...]Arbitration
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What is Securities Arbitration?
June 1, 2025Securities arbitration has become the most often-used method of resolving disputes in the securities industry. Since the late [...]
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Tips for a Successful Securities Mediation
February 19, 2025Tips for a Successful Securities Mediation Securities arbitration is a proven method for resolving disputes in the securities [...] -
What Does a Securities Lawyer Do?
July 8, 2024Mark J. Astarita, Esq. is a nationally recognized securities attorney, representing clients in securities investigations, [...]
- SEC Investor Advocate’s Recommendations on Arbitration and Index-Linked Annuities
- Arbitration Claims Filed Against Stifel Broker Chuck Roberts
- Securities Arbitration Overview-2023 Update
Enforcement
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What is Securities Arbitration?
June 1, 2025Securities arbitration has become the most often-used method of resolving disputes in the securities industry. Since the late [...]
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Should Brokers and Firms Share a Lawyer?
March 31, 2025By Mark J. Astarita, Esq. A repeating question on my website comes from brokers who are named in an arbitration proceeding by [...]
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What is a Ponzi Scheme
March 26, 2025A Ponzi scheme is a fraudulent investment operation. The operator, either an individual or organization, pays returns to its [...]
- How SEC Investigations Work: Process, Defense Strategies & Legal Guidance
- What Happens If I Ignore an SEC Subpoena?
- 9 Proven Strategies for Defending an SEC Investigation
Featured Articles
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Time to Update the SEC’s Wells Process
September 6, 2025We have written about the SEC’s Wells process in the past. A Wells Notice is a notice from a regulator that it intends to [...] -
What is Securities Arbitration?
June 1, 2025Securities arbitration has become the most often-used method of resolving disputes in the securities industry. Since the late [...]
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SEC Charges Multiple Individuals and Entities in Relationship Investment Scams
September 18, 2024By Mark J. Astarita, Esq. SEC Charges in Crypto Fraud Cases: NanoBit and CoinW6 Scams Unveiled Despite my decades of representing [...]
- 9 Proven Strategies for Defending an SEC Investigation
- Federal Securities Law, a Securities Lawyer Guide
- What is a Security?
Whistleblowers
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Sallah Astarita & Cox Obtains $12 Million Whistleblower Award
October 21, 2024SEC Awards $12 Million to Whistleblowers Exposing Penny Stock Fraud Last week, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) [...] -
SEC Issues Awards Totaling $98 Million to Two Whistleblowers
August 23, 2024The SEC’s Landmark Whistleblower Awards The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) recently made headlines by awarding [...] -
SEC Whistleblower Award: A $37 Million Milestone
July 17, 2024The SEC has granted over $37 million to a whistleblower. This individual provided previously unknown information to the [...] -
Supreme Court Upholds Corporate Whistleblower Protections
February 9, 2024February 8. 2024 – The U.S. Supreme Court issued a unanimous ruling holding that whistleblowers do not need to prove that [...] -
Monolith Resources Settles SEC Charges Violating Whistleblower Protection Rules
September 8, 2023Sept. 8, 2023 — The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has announced settled charges against Monolith Resources LLC, a [...]
- Record-Breaking SEC Whistleblower Awards: $104 Million Rewarded to Seven Individuals
- Inside the SEC Whistleblower Office
- SEC Awards More Than $104 Million to Seven Whistleblowers
Other News
Jon Kroeper Named Deputy Director of the Division of Trading and Markets
The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that Jon Kroeper has been named deputy director of the agency’s Division of Trading and Markets, effective Sept. 29. Mr. Kroeper twice served at the SEC before joining the Financial Industry… SEC Press Release For more information, contact the securities lawyers at Sallah […]
SEC Announces Agenda, Panelists for SEC-CFTC Roundtable on Regulatory Harmonization Efforts
The Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission have announced the agenda and panelists for their joint September 29 roundtable on regulatory harmonization efforts. The roundtable, announced earlier this month,… SEC Press Release For more information, contact the securities lawyers at Sallah Astarita & Cox, at 212-509-6544 or […]
SEC Announces Departure of Chief Operating Officer Ken Johnson
The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that Ken Johnson, who has been serving as Chief Operating Officer (COO) since December 2017, will retire from the agency in December. “Ken has been an integral leader at the SEC for more than two… SEC Press Release For more information, contact the […]
Small Business Forum Report to Congress Highlights Recommendations to Improve Capital Raising
The Securities and Exchange Commission released a report to Congress summarizing policy recommendations made during the SEC’s 44th Annual Small Business Forum. The report provides a summary of the forum proceedings, recommendations developed by… SEC Press Release For more information, contact the securities lawyers at Sallah Astarita & Cox, at […]
SEC and CFTC Extend Form PF Compliance Date to Oct. 1, 2026
The Securities and Exchange Commission and U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission each voted to further extend the date for investment advisers to comply with amendments to Form PF, the confidential reporting form used by certain private fund advisers… SEC Press Release For more information, contact the securities lawyers at Sallah […]
SEC Approves Generic Listing Standards for Commodity-Based Trust Shares
The Securities and Exchange Commission today voted to approve proposed rule changes by three national securities exchanges to adopt generic listing standards for exchange-traded products that hold spot commodities, including digital assets. As a result,… SEC Press Release For more information, contact the securities lawyers at Sallah Astarita & Cox, […]
SEC Issues Policy Statement Clarifying that Mandatory Arbitration Provisions Will Not Affect Effectiveness of Registration Statements
The Securities and Exchange Commission today published a policy statement to announce that decisions about whether to accelerate the effectiveness of a registration statement will not be affected by the presence of a provision requiring arbitration of… SEC Press Release For more information, contact the securities lawyers at Sallah Astarita […]
SEC Announces Four New Members of Investor Advisory Committee
The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced four new members to fill vacancies on its Investor Advisory Committee. The new members, who will serve four-year terms, join 16 current committee members. The committee, established pursuant to… SEC Press Release For more information, contact the securities lawyers at Sallah Astarita & […]
SEC to Host Webinar for Large Firms on Regulation S-P
The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced it will hold a series of three compliance outreach events regarding the 2024 adoption of amendments to Regulation S-P. The first event, for large firms, is a webinar scheduled for Sept. 25 from 1 p.m… SEC Press Release For more information, contact the […]
SEC Investor Advisory Committee to Host Panels to Discuss Reconsideration of the Eligibility Criteria and Regulatory Treatment of Foreign Private Issuers
The Securities and Exchange Commission’s Investor Advisory Committee will hold a public meeting at the SEC Headquarters in Washington D.C. on Sept. 18, 2025, at 10 a.m. ET. The meeting will also be webcast on the SEC website. The committee will… SEC Press Release For more information, contact the securities lawyers […]
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