Samuel “Sam” is a Bates Consulting and Testifying Expert who has more than 30 years of experience as an attorney and senior compliance officer in the Securities Industry. Since 2000, he has served in Chief Compliance Officer (COO) roles at some of the industry’s premier firms—Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, Bear Stearns and, more recently, a 12-year stint at TIAA. In those roles, he has assisted firms in all aspects of compliance programs including strategic planning, rule implementations and execution of responses to compliance exams, enforcement matters, and regulatory inquiries. Sam has also served as CCO of Broker-Dealers, RIA's, Hedge Funds, and Private Equity efforts.
Sam is a licensed attorney who has defended firms and individuals—as outside and internal counsel in securities arbitrations, regulatory inquiries and hearings as well as large compliance projects. He has a proven track record highlighted by the following qualities:
- Experienced leader in Private Client, Retirement/Pension and Asset Management Compliance and Regulatory matters.
- Strengths include pro-activity, issue resolution abilities, and effective use of communication strategies on behalf of clients.
- Demonstrated ability to design, build out, and properly structure a compliance program or response to new rule implementations.
- Excellent working relationships with regulatory authorities and positive impact on regulatory exam and inquiry results.
- Sought after as a public speaker.
He has served on numerous industry and regulatory committees, including the SIFMA Compliance and Legal Executive Committee and FINRA’s District 10 Members Committee.
Samuel is a consultant and subject matter expert in:
Retail Broker-Dealer and Wealth Management; RIA and Dual Registrant; Retirement and ERISA
Credentials
EXPERIENCE
Bates Group LLC, Consulting and Testifying Expert, 2020 – Present
TIAA, TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC, Chief Compliance Officer, New York, NY, 2008 – 2020
Bears Stearns Companies, Inc., Senior Managing Director, New York, NY, 2006 – 2008
Bingham McCutchen LLP, Partner, New York, NY, 2005 – 2006
St. Consulting, Principal, New Jersey, 2004 – 2005
Morgan Stanley, Managing Director, New York, NY, 2002 – 2004
Merrill Lynch, First Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer Advisory Division, 2000 – 2002; Director and Compliance Manager, 1996 – 2000; Vice President, Senior Arbitration Counsel, New York, NY, 1993 – 1996
RELATED PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Shearson Lehman Brothers Inc., Vice President, Securities Arbitration, New York, NY
Lord Day & Lord, Barrett Smith, Litigation Associate, General Corporate Litigation, New York, NY
Bessemer Trust Company, N.A., Trust Officer, Investment Management & Administration, New York, NY
EDUCATION
Juris Doctor (JD), Fordham University School of Law, New York, NY
Bachelor of Arts (BA), Fordham College, New York, NY
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS/LICENSING
- FINRA, 2010 – 2017; Member, District 10 Members Committee, 2013 – 2017; Member, Complaints Initiatives Committee, 2010 – 2017
- Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA), 2002 – 2018; Executive Committee, Compliance and Legal Division, 2002 – 2004; Chairperson, Compliance Subcommittee of Compliance and Legal Division, 2004; Lecturer, Annual Spring SIFMA Compliance and Legal Division Seminar, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2008, 2004, 2003, 1997
- University of North Carolina Law School Bootcamp, 2020, 2018, 2016
- ACA Compliance CCO Roundtable, 2018, 2012
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
- National Jazz Museum in Harlem, Trustee, 2016 – Present
- John Noble Maritime Collection, Trustee, Staten Island, NY, 2015 – Present
- Penn Station Initiative, 2016 – 2020; Board Chairperson, 2020; Chairperson, Steering Committee, 2016 – 2019
- Charlie Parker Jazz Festival, Inc., Chairperson, Founding Member and Producer, 1993 – 2002