WE SOLVE BROKER/INVESTMENT ADVISOR REGISTRATION PROBLEMS NATIONWIDE FROM OUR FLORIDA OFFICES

Getting licensed to sell securities, commodities and/or give investment advice can be difficult particularly for those brokers and investment advisors who have had problems in the past with law enforcement agencies, customer complaints and/or financial regulatory agencies, such as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Commodities Futures Exchange Commission (CFTC), Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), Florida Office of Financial Regulation (Fla-OFR), or the National Futures Association (NFA). An experienced lawyer can help you persuade the federal and state government agencies and self-regulatory organizations (SROs) to let you practice your profession. The attorneys at the Law Offices Of Robert Wayne Pearce, P. A. can help you advocate your position and fight for you in self-regulatory agency and state administrative proceedings to gain and/or retain your license. Most cases are resolved by negotiation and compromise and can include enhanced supervision agreements that allow you to prove over time to the SROs and state agencies that you are worthy of an unrestricted registration.

YOU NEED AN EXPERIENCED FINRA DEFENSE LAWYER WHEN FACING STATUTORY DISQUALIFICATION

Attorney Pearce will help you obtain relief from “statutory disqualifications” through Eligibility Proceedings. Generally speaking, a person who is subject to a “statutory disqualification” may not be associated with a FINRA member in any capacity unless and until approved in an eligibility proceeding. These proceedings are extremely complex and becoming more common because FINRA has expanded the list of disqualifying events as follows:

  • Certain misdemeanor and all felony criminal convictions for a period of 10 years from the date of conviction.
  • Temporary and permanent injunctions (regardless of their age) issued by a court of competent jurisdiction involving a broad range of unlawful investment activities.
  • Expulsions (and current suspensions) from membership or participation in a self-regulatory organization.
  • Bars (and current suspensions) ordered by the SEC or SROs.
  • Denials or revocations of registration by the SEC or CFTC.
  • Any final order of a state securities commission or any agency or officer performing like functions, state authority that supervises or examines banks, savings associations or credit unions, state insurance commission or any agency or office performing like functions, an appropriate Federal banking agency, or the national credit Union administration that: bars such person from association with an entity regulated by such commission, authority, agency, or officer from engaging in the business of securities, insurance, banking, savings association activities, or credit union activities; or constitutes a final order based on violations of any laws or regulations that prohibit fraudulent, manipulative, and deceptive conduct.
  • Findings by the SEC, CFTC, or an SRO that a person “willfully” violated the federal securities commodities laws, or the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB) rules; “willfully” aided, abetted, counseled, commanded, induced, or procured such violations; or failed to supervise another who commits violations of such laws or rules.

If you have become the subject of a statutorily disqualifying event, it is important that you immediately contact a qualified and experienced attorney in order to be permitted to continue to work while engaged in an Eligibility Proceeding.

WE REPRESENT BROKERS IN FINRA ELIGIBILITY PROCEEDINGS NATIONWIDE

The more complex registration problems involve “statutory disqualifications” for a variety of events. Once one becomes aware of a statutory disqualifying event, the FINRA member firm is obligated to report the event to FINRA and cease its association with the disqualified person unless and until that person is approved for continued registration in an Eligibility Proceeding. If the event occurs while the associated person is currently registered and working with the member firm, the person may be permitted to continue to work under certain circumstances, provided the member firm promptly files a written application for the associated person to continue his or her employment during the course of the Eligibility Proceeding. The same rule applies to member firms that become the subject of a statutory disqualification event.

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OVER $175 MILLION RECOVERED FOR CLIENTS Contact Our Lawyers for Nationwide Help
LET ATTORNEY PEARCE GUIDE YOU THROUGH ELIGIBILITY PROCEEDINGS

This is a very technical proceeding and requires a skilled trial lawyer with detailed knowledge of FINRA practices and procedures. Attorney Pearce at the Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A. has substantial knowledge and experience in this area of law and regulation.

The first step is for the member firm or its lawyers to amend the associate’s Form U-4 and complete and file a detailed application to initiate the Eligibility Proceeding. If the member is the subject of this disqualifying event, than it must amend its Form BD and file the application on its own behalf as well. The FINRA Registration and Disclosure division then examines the application for deficiencies. It compiles all the documents necessary for Member Regulation and the Office of General Counsel to review and consider.

The Member Regulation division acts as the party for FINRA in all Eligibility Proceedings. It is responsible for evaluating all of the applications and making recommendations to the National Adjudicatory Counsel. The important factors in considering whether to grant or deny the application for continued eligibility as a member or associate member of any firm are as follows:

  • The nature and gravity of the disqualifying event.
  • The length of time that has elapsed since the disqualifying event.
  • Whether any intervening misconduct has occurred.
  • Any other mitigating or aggravating circumstances that may exist.
  • The precise nature of the securities-related activities proposed in the application.
  • The disciplinary history and industry experience of both the member firm and the firm proposed by the member firm to serve as a responsible supervisor of the disqualified person.

These applications are generally not approved without the member firm undertaking to perform heightened supervision of the person who is subject to disqualification. Virtually every application that is approved requires the implementation of the special supervisory plan.

The next step is the actual Eligibility Proceedings hearing, which are scheduled throughout the year and held in Washington DC. It is a formal hearing where everyone is afforded the opportunity to be heard, present evidence, and be represented by attorneys to argue in favor of their position. The Member Regulation division is represented by a FINRA staff attorney who advocates the recommendation that the application be granted or denied. Although the decision at FINRA is ultimately made by the National Adjudicatory Council, the Statutory Disqualification Committee actually makes the recommendation based upon the record in the Eligibility Proceeding and steers the decision of the Council. In rare instances, its decision is the final step at FINRA unless the FINRA Board of Governors intervenes and seeks to review the decision to assure itself that the admission of the disqualified person or member is not inconsistent with the public interest and the overriding regulatory goal to ensure the protection of investors.

The very final step in this regulatory process is review of the FINRA decision by the SEC, which must review and approve every FINRA decision before it takes effect. It usually is a rubber stamp approval, but on occasion the SEC may scrutinize a particular application by requesting more information, requiring more restrictions, or requiring more undertakings on behalf of the member firm and its supervision of the disqualified person. Similarly, if FINRA denied the application, the aggrieved person is entitled to an appeal to the SEC for the relief of the “statutory disqualification” requested.

Hear From Our Clients

At The Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A., we believe the ultimate barometer of our success is surpassing the expectation of our clients.

The following clients have direct knowledge of our firm's processes from the inside and experienced our fierce advocacy.

Hear From Our Clients

  • "Bob Pearce is the real-life Marvel Hero who fights for small investors against brokerage institutions who manage investors’ hard-earned money carelessly, and even worse, conduct fraud outright."

    Bob Pearce is the real-life Marvel Hero who fights for small investors against brokerage institutions who manage investors’ hard-earned money carelessly, and even worse, conduct fraud outright. For years, we were misled by a brokerage firm who told us they would correct the wrong or compensate us for their mistakes. Only after we started working with Bob, we realized how powerful and wonderful it is to have a top legal expert by your side. Bob is immensely detail oriented, knowledgeable, professional, and confident. We are more than happy with the outcome Bob achieved for us within just a few months. Thank you, Bob!

    - Q Wang -
  • “Robert Pearce is part of that unusual breed of lawyers that are able to create empathy with clients and thoroughly adopt their cause”

    No half efforts here. He and his group of professionals are outstanding strategists that can execute with precise fervor and unyielding determination. Theirs is a huge wave of facts, research, precedents and preparation, that has impressed me in its thoroughness and creativity, and most importantly with the results. No stone goes unturned and no effort is ever spared. In my book, he and they are those of a very rare kind that one wants to keep for a very long time.

    - Ramon Flores-Esteves -
  • “Just like the song from HAMILTON, it's so nice to have Bob Pearce on your side.”

    Just like the song from HAMILTON, it's so nice to have Bob Pearce on your side. He is the consumate plaintiff's lawyer: smart. dedicated, fully able to try a case but a great negotiator in a mediation. He did a wonderful job for us, fully supporting us through the process and more than holding his own against a large national law firm.

    - Maurice Z. -
  • "Mr. Pearce and his staff exceeded all of our expectations."

    Mr. Pearce and his staff exceeded all of our expectations. We were able to reach a settlement that was of our complete satisfaction, all within a very smooth, professional and efficient process. Mr. Pearce is now not only our lawyer but our family friend. We highly recommend him and his team!

    - Severiano L. -
  • "For the best fighting chance, Robert Pearce is the lawyer you want in your corner."

    This law firm is the real deal. We were so lucky that they took our case as they have so much experience in securities and all the wrongdoing that happens in these investment companies where they mislead you and your money (as in our case) into schemes that are not what you think they are. Mr. Robert Pearce is one of the best lawyers around, a truly professional who will fight for you and will tell you as it is all the time. We could not have gone thru this experience if it was not for all the advice, guidance and support he and all of his staff and associates brought to the game. For the best fighting chance, Robert Pearce is the lawyer you want in your corner.

    - Astrid M. -
  • "He never felt intimidated and his study of the case and perseverance prevailed at all times."

    Attorney Robert Pearce was our lawyer in a case against a Brokerage Firm and I'm witness to his ability and intelligence to deal with lawyers from the most prominent law firm in New York which was the key to recovering much of our losses cheered by their negligence. He never felt intimidated and his study of the case and perseverance prevailed at all times.

    - Jose A. C. -
  • "In the end, Bob and I had the last laugh when the arbitrators awarded me almost 6 million dollars."

    No lawyer except Bob said I had a chance of winning. When UBS Lawyers laughingly offered me zero to settle the dispute, Bob became even more determined to prove everybody wrong. Bob was extremely prepared, and always a step ahead of the opposing attorneys throughout the arbitration. In the end, Bob and I had the last laugh when the arbitrators awarded me almost 6 million dollars.

    - J. Blanco -
  • "Every meeting and phone call was made with dedication and desire to help our family every step of the way."

    Robert's team is excellent. They are very competitive in what they do and they are very responsible. Every meeting and phone call was made with dedication and desire to help our family every step of the way. Their professionalism, responsibility and empathy assured us that we were in good hands. Recommend to everyone.

    - Mayra A. -

FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEYS WHO CAN HANDLE YOUR REGISTRATION, STATUTORY DISQUALIFICATION AND ELIGIBILITY PROBLEMS

The Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A. understands what is at stake in securities industry Eligibility Proceedings and constantly strives to secure the most favorable result possible. For dedicated representation by a law firm with experience with investment industry registration disputes, contact us online or by telephone toll free at 800-732-2889 for your Free Consultation.