Wilson Elser’s attorneys have handled – from inception through trial – every conceivable type of claim brought by public customers against securities industry professionals, including financial planners, investment advisers, broker-dealers and registered representatives.

We provide brokerage firms and investment advisers with focused, cost-efficient handling and defense of sensitive and complex matters in arbitration and litigation. Many of our Securities Industry Professionals team members have worked as in-house trial counsel at major and independent brokerage firms, the U.S. Department of Justice and FINRA, and have represented brokerage firms and investment advisers in thousands of proceedings. In addition, clients benefit from the combined knowledge shared by the members of our national Securities Practice.

The range of matters that fall under federal and state securities laws, corporate and banking laws, and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) include, but are not limited to:

• Federal and state securities litigation
• FINRA dispute resolution arbitrations
• U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission investigations and proceedings
• State and FINRA enforcement and regulatory investigations and proceedings
• Shareholder derivative litigation
• Accounting fraud allegations
• Public offering litigation
• Proxy litigation and contests for control
• Claims arising from stock acquisitions and other corporate transactions
• ERISA and trust law claims.

Wilson Elser also provides advisory services to companies in the broker-dealer field, acting as counsel on issues that arise during their daily business activities. We advise on the full spectrum of retail and institutional brokerage issues, including reporting obligations, trading issues, disclosure, net capital, rule 1017 filings, review of compliance programs, drafting of policies and procedures, SEC custody rules and other back-office questions.

In addition, our team represents clients in regulatory enforcement matters. The mere initiation of an enforcement action by a securities regulator can cause extensive harm to a client’s reputation or business prospects. Our attorneys engage in proactive activities with the regulators at the earliest stages of the process.

Drawing on deep knowledge of securities industry practices and relevant governing statutes, rules and regulations, we assist clients in planning and executing internal investigations related to potential violations of securities, banking and other laws as well as breaches of fiduciary duty.