Welcome to the SEC and FINRA Defense Blog, which highlights recent SEC and FINRA enforcement actions and trends. The blog typically features a particular SEC or FINRA litigated case or settlement, setting forth the critical facts, the relevant charges, the remedies sought by the SEC or FINRA, and providing Mr. Chase’s insights on a novel, interesting or in some cases relatively funny facet of the case. As a former SEC prosecutor and now SEC and FINRA defense lawyer, Mr. Chase brings his almost three decades of experience in SEC and FINRA investigations and prosecutions to the table, offering his unique perspective on how the SEC and FINRA investigate and prosecute, and explaining the various, often-times subtle factors that drive how a SEC settlement or a FINRA AWC (Acceptance, Waiver and Consent) is reached.
In other instances, this blog will discuss recent trends in FINRA and SEC enforcement, focusing on macro issues influencing the securities regulators’ approach to enforcing the securities laws and securities industry rules and regulations. These discussions range from shifts in policy and enforcement priority considerations to the increasing reliance on technology and big data in influencing investigative techniques and prosecutorial decision-making by the SEC and FINRA.
My hope is that the matters discussed and analyzed here will be of interest to a wide segment – securities professionals who have a direct and immediate personal and professional interest, securities lawyers who practice in this SEC and FINRA enforcement field, and those individuals who unfortunately may find themselves under the cross-hairs of an SEC investigation or FINRA Rule 8210 inquiry and want to educate themselves about the process. Regardless of the audience and the various motivations for those who visit this site, my hope is that you enjoy the content and learn from it.
