Markets We Serve

Financial Services

Financial Services
Regions

J.S. Held Acquires Stapleton Group & Launches Strategic Advisory Practice

Read More close Created with Sketch.

We leverage a detailed understanding of regulatory, consumer, and market dynamics to deliver comprehensive solutions to clients in the financial services sector.

Our global team of financial services industry experts advise banks, insurers, payment processors, asset managers, broker-dealers, RIAs, and other financial institutions to enhance operating capabilities while mitigating risk. We deliver strategic guidance in matters involving regulatory compliance and inquiries, litigation and arbitration support, business operations, performance enhancement, and risk management.

Litigation & Arbitration Support

Regulatory, Compliance &
Anti-Money Laundering
Crypto & Blockchain Advisory

Data Analytics &
Financial Investigations
Due Diligence &
Transaction Advisory
Litigation & Arbitration Support

Regulatory, Compliance &
Anti-Money Laundering
Crypto & Blockchain Advisory

Data Analytics &
Financial Investigations
Due Diligence &
Transaction Advisory

Specialized Expertise for the Financial Services Industry:

With the increasing global prevalence and sophistication of financial technology, rigorous regulatory requirements, and complex operations worldwide, we leverage extensive industry knowledge and experience to deliver specialized expertise to thrive in this shifting landscape.

Our fully integrated team has significant experience supporting clients in the financial services sector within a regulatory framework that includes the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the Federal Reserve, the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and other federal and state regulators. In addition to extensive regulatory knowledge, we have experts with significant securities trading expertise, hedge fund portfolio management, risk management experience, and hands-on compliance expertise.

See our services below to learn more about the comprehensive support our experts provide for the global Financial Services sector.

Digital & Data

Cyber Security Consulting & Digital Investigations
  • Cloud Security Consulting
  • Cyber Risk & Compliance Consulting
  • Digital Forensics Services
  • eDiscovery Consulting Services
  • Forensic Data Analytics
  • Penetration Testing Services
  • Virtual CISO Services (vCISO)
ESG & EHS Digital Solutions
  • Carbon Accounting & GHG Assurance & Verification
  • Data Analytics & Data Management
  • Digital Transformation Consulting
  • Emissions Tracking & Reporting
  • Managed Services, Training & Support
  • Sustainability Management
  • Technology Roadmap Development
  • Technology Selection, Implementation & System Expansion Consulting
Information Governance & Data Privacy Consulting
  • Ad Tech Data Privacy & Compliance
  • Departing Employee Data Theft Consulting
  • Cookie/Tracking Pixel Consent & Compliance Management
  • Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIA)
  • Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) Frameworks
  • Off-Channel Communications (OCC) Compliance
  • Policy, Procedure & Program Development / Monitoring 
  • Regulatory & Privacy Compliance
  • Third-Party Risk & Compliance

Financial Investigations, Valuation & Risk

BROKER-DEALERS & REGISTERED INVESTMENT ADVISORS PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
  • Annual Compliance Reviews & Assessments
  • Arbitration Tools: ArbSelector®, ArbReporter®, MockArb®
  • Broker-Dealer & RIA Registration
  • Broker-Dealer Compliance & Litigation Support
  • Brokerage Statement Analysis
  • Case Assessment & Damages Analysis
  • Data Analytics
  • Early Dispute Resolution
  • Expert Testimony
  • Forensic Accounting & Economic Damages
  • Internal Investigations
  • Profit & Loss Reports & Performance Analytics
  • Regulatory Enforcement & Proactive Remediations
  • RIA Compliance Advisory
  • Surveillance & Risk Controls: Lookbacks & Calibration Testing
  • Tailored Compliance & Supervisory Best Practices Consulting
  • Targeted Internal Controls Testing & Reviews
  • Trial Tech Support & Hot Seat Operators
CRYPTOCURRENCY, BLOCKCHAIN & DIGITAL ASSETS
  • Blockchain & Crypto Investigations
  • Blockchain & Digital Asset Analysis & Consulting
  • Blockchain & Token Economics & Decentralization Assessments
  • Cryptocurrency Asset Due Diligence & Provenance Services
  • Cryptocurrency Asset Tracing & Recovery
  • Cryptocurrency Operational Due Diligence
  • Cryptocurrency Regulatory Compliance
  • Damages Involving Digital Assets Assessments
  • Digital Asset Compliance Framework Development
  • DOJ, SEC & Other Law Enforcement Inquiry Response
  • Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD)
  • Independent Crypto Asset Valuation Services
  • Know Your Customer (KYC) Reporting
  • Litigation & Regulatory Enforcement Expert Services
  • Managed Services
  • Market Manipulation Investigations
  • Money Services Business (MSB) Registration, Compliance & Money Transmission Licensing (MTL)
  • Operational & Regulatory Risk Assessment
  • Outsourced CCO Services
  • Transaction Monitoring
Forensic Accounting & Economics
  • Bankruptcy Litigation
  • Business Interruption / Lost Profits
  • Business Valuation
  • ESOP Valuation & Consulting
  • Financial Reporting
  • Fidelity Claims
  • Intellectual Property (IP) Investigations to Determine Theft or Misuse & Quantify Remedies
  • Trust & Estate Valuations
Investigations & Compliance Services
  • Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) / Anti-Money Laundering (AML) & Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) Advisory
  • Compliance & Regulatory Consulting
  • Corporate Investigations
  • Dispute Resolution & International Arbitration
  • Financial Statement Misstatements / Auditor Conduct Investigations
  • Fraud Investigations
  • Global Sanctions Compliance
  • Human Factors Analysis & User Experience Research Services
  • Investigative Due Diligence
  • Litigation Support & Expert Testimony
  • Model Validations
  • Monitorships
  • Operational Risk Advisory
  • Solvency Evaluations
  • Sovereign Debt Advisory

Strategic Advisory

Business Intelligence
  • Competition, Market & Regulatory Assessments
  • Due Diligence Assessments
  • Government Relations Advisory
  • Political Risk Analysis
  • Supply Chain Integrity Assessments
Intellectual Property (IP)
  • Intellectual Property Advisory
  • Intellectual Property Expert Opinion
  • Intellectual Property Management Consulting
  • Intellectual Property  Specialty Services
Investment Banking, Portfolio Optimization & Investor Services
  • Asset, Portfolio & Business Valuations
  • Balance Sheet Restructuring
  • Capital Markets Advisory – Loans, Debt, Equity, Financing
  • Due Diligence - Commercial, Economic, Financial, Market, Operational, Strategic & Technical
  • Executive Leadership & Interim Management
  • Integration Planning & Execution
  • Intellectual Property Debt & Equity
  • Intellectual Property Transaction Advisory
  • Mergers & Acquisitions Advisory – Buy-Side & Sell Side
  • Market Balance for Securitized Risk, Insurance & Complex Claims
  • Transaction Monitoring Advisory Services
  • Portfolio & Capital Model Restructuring/Optimization
  • Portfolio Strategic Reviews
  • Project Financing, Acquisitions & Divestitures
  • Regulatory Compliance & Asset Reviews
  • Securitizing Transactions Through Complex Insurance Products
  • Transaction Diligence & Support
Operational Value Creation
  • Board Advisory & Participation
  • Growth Strategies
  • Interim Operations Management
  • Office of the COO & Operational Support
  • Operating Model Development
  • Operational Advisory Services
  • Operational Risk Assessment & Mitigation
  • Organizational Structure & Efficiency Advisory
  • Profit Improvement
  • Program & Project Management
  • Revenue Enhancement
  • Strategic Operational Planning
Sustainability & ESG Services
  • Corporate Strategy, Risk Management, Assurance & Dispute Services
  • Environmental Sustainability Services
  • Governance Sustainability Services
  • Social Sustainability Services
Turnaround & Restructuring Services
  • Alternatives to Bankruptcy Advisory – ABC, Settlements, Receiverships, Article IX Sales
  • Bankruptcy Advisory
  • Board Advisory & Participation
  • Borrow Performance Monitoring
  • Business / Operational Assessments
  • Business Plan Validation
  • Chief Restructuring Officer & Interim Management Services
  • Commercial Real Estate (CRE) Solutions – Valuation, Construction & Financial Turnaround
  • Consideration of Cash Conservation Methods
  • Construction Cost, Schedule, Finance & EPC Assurance
  • Fiduciary Services – Receiver, Assignee, Trustee
  • Financial Reporting & Performance Management
  • Lender Advisory
  • Liquidations
  • Liquidity Management
  • Office of the CFO & Corporate Finance Support
  • Project & Corporate Loan Workout Economics
  • Stakeholder Position Assessments

The Protocol for Broker Recruiting

The Protocol for Broker Recruiting (Broker Protocol)

The Protocol for Broker Recruiting (Broker Protocol) was originally executed in 2004 between Citigroup Global Markets Inc. (“Smith Barney”), Merrill Lynch, Incorporated and UBS Financial Services Inc. The Protocol governs the use of client information when registered representatives move between firms that are signatories to The Protocol, with the stated principal goal of furthering clients’ interests in privacy and freedom of choice in connection with the movement of their registered representatives. J.S. Held’s role in administering The Protocol is to maintain and distribute lists of The Protocol signatory firms and their contact information.

View The Protocol for Broker Recruiting

A Selection of Our Experts' Experience

Accounting Support

Led the accounting team for the Securities Investor Protection Act (SIPA) liquidation of a financial company, where the team was responsible for the maintenance and reconciliation of the estate’s books and records, preparation of the estate’s statement of financial position, and other periodic estate reporting requirements.

Broker-Dealer Fraud Risk Advisory

Engaged by a large broker-dealer to conduct a fraud risk assessment as a component of their implementation of the COSO Framework. Areas of focus included capital markets and investment banking, commercial mortgage banking, risk management, wealth management, operations, human resources, procurement, information technology, as well as the company’s regulatory functions.

Cryptocurrency Investigation

Engaged to conduct an analysis of cryptocurrency trading and blockchain records on behalf of a blockchain protocol and payment platform. This matter involved a review of the public blockchain records, internal trade records, as well as investigating numerous social media claims and allegations.

BSA/AML Program Audit

Retained to conduct an independent compliance audit for a large casino’s BSA/AML program. We addressed the potential money laundering and terrorist financing risks posed by the casino’s products, services, customer base, and geographical location. Our team provided a system of internal controls to assure ongoing compliance with BSA; trained casino personnel to identify unusual/suspicious transactions; reviewed procedures utilized to determine and verify the name, address, social security number, and other identifying information; and tested the adequacy of processes for detecting patterns of suspicious transactions and filing suspicious activity reports.

Fraud Investigation

Led an investigation into executive misconduct involving kickbacks and embezzlement at a private equity fund and presented findings to the board.

Money Services Business (MSB) Registration & Money Transmission Licensing (MTL)

Engaged to assist a well-known foreign payment processor in registering as an MSB in the United States, as well as helping this company successfully obtain MTL licenses throughout the United States.

Trial & Litigation Support

Engaged to assist counsel in developing a litigation strategy that included an analysis of the litigation materials to formulate deposition and testimony topics and questions for the opposing fact witnesses and experts. This work led to a Daubert challenge of the opposing expert.

 
Our Experts