Markets We Serve
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.
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.
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.
A Selection of Our Experts' Experience
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.
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.
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.
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.
Led an investigation into executive misconduct involving kickbacks and embezzlement at a private equity fund and presented findings to the board.
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.
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.
