News

Bates Research  |  08-06-20

FINRA Roundup: Guidance on Private Placements, Digital Assets, Virtual Hearings, and Proposals

Since our last regulatory update on the adoption of FINRA’s proposal to align its suitability and non-cash compensation rules with Regulation Best Interest (“Reg BI”), the self-regulatory organization issued guidance on private placement communications, recommended that firms provide information to them on digital assets, and proposed a series of new rule changes. Bates examines the details of FINRA’s updated guidance.

Bates News, Events  |  08-05-20

8/13 CLE: Capital Market Uncertainty in the Time of COVID-19 and Potential Legal & Regulatory Impact

Join Bates Group’s next CLE Webinar on Thursday, August 13th, 2020,  “Capital Market Uncertainty in the Time of COVID-19 and the Potential Litigation and Regulatory Impact” when we look at 2020 in the context of past bear markets, compare the 1918 influenza pandemic to today, discuss the sectors and industries hardest hit by the economic disruption, and potential capital market-related litigation and regulatory enforcement matters on the horizon. Featuring (L-R) co-moderators Jack McGuire of Oppenheimer & Co. and Esther Cho of Keesal, Young & Logan, along with Greg Kyle, Bates Group Director and Expert. REGISTER HERE

Bates News  |  08-05-20

Bates Group, Complidata Bring Expertise and A.I. Technology Together to Optimize AML and Compliance

Bates Group and Complidata today announced a partnership to combine leading financial crime industry expertise and Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) technology together in a joint approach to assist financial institutions with tuning and optimizing their anti-money laundering operations and compliance. Based in Belgium, Complidata is a leader in the use of A.I. to drive automation and optimization for improved regulatory compliance. The partnership will assist financial institutions with the tuning and optimization of their transaction monitoring and sanctions and name screening systems — significantly increasing efficiencies and effectiveness in their processes and procedures while reducing the percentages of false-positive alerts.

Bates Research  |  07-30-20

DOL Proposes New Class Exemption for Investment Advisers

More than two years after the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals vacated the Department of Labor’s fiduciary duty rule, the agency proposed new regulations on investment advice for retirement accounts under ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code. Under the heading “Improving Investment Advice for Workers & Retirees,” the DOL proposed a new “prohibited transaction class exemption” for investment adviser fiduciaries, reinstated the 1975 regulation and its five-part test for defining investment advice, and made certain changes to its pre-existing prohibited transaction class exemptions. Bates examines the details of the new DOL proposal.

Bates News  |  07-24-20

Welcome to Our New Bates Experts

Bates Group is proud to welcome our newest experts and consultants: 

Amy Bard, Esq.- Sales Practice Litigation, Compliance, Senior Investors

Paula Barnes - Retail Industry Expert, Retail Contracts, Regulatory and Compliance investigations

Linda Houston - Wealth Management, Branch Management, Hiring and Recruiting, Retail Securities Litigation and Arbitration

Donald Mattersdorff, CFA - Investment Advisory, Risk Management, Securities Analysis (Equity and Fixed Income)

Bates News, Bates Research  |  07-22-20

Bates Practice Leadership Insights: Julie Johnstone on the Changing Litigation Landscape

As Managing Director for Bates Group's Retail Litigation practice, Julie Johnstone manages and oversees financial litigation and arbitration matters. Her team assists broker-dealer and investment advisers, banks and insurance companies, as well as State and Federal Regulators, throughout the life cycle of their retail litigation matters, from early case assessments, profit and loss reports, damage analyses, and “what if” scenarios, to expert consultation and testimony at hearing, as well as mediation and settlement support. We asked Julie to consider the state of retail litigation in light of the pandemic and to anticipate some of the long-term implications on case management and dispute resolution going forward.

Events  |  07-21-20

Upcoming CLE Webinar 7/30: Anti-Money Laundering and Fraud Risks In the Age of COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has created new compliance and regulatory risks for financial institutions. New avenues for money laundering have sprung up, presenting challenges for financial institutions facing pandemic-related resource constraints. Join Bates Group and Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP for this CLE webinar which will examine how financial institutions can adapt their AML programs to the new financial environment and regulatory expectations. Thursday, July 30, 2020 at 12 p.m. Eastern.

Bates Research  |  07-16-20

New OCIE, FinCEN Alerts Emphasize Vigilance Against Ransomware, Imposter Scams, Money Mule Schemes

In the past week, the SEC Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (OCIE) and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) warned financial institutions to guard against specific and increasingly prevalent types of fraud against consumers. These activities have been uncovered through examinations, suspicious activity reports (SARs), law enforcement information and public reporting. OCIE and FinCEN’s alerts follow other federal and state reports urging firms to increase vigilance against similar crisis-related misconduct.

Events  |  07-15-20

Virtual Event: NSCP 2020 Midwest Regulatory Interchange

The NSCP 2020 Midwest Regulatory Interchange with the SEC, DOL and FINRA is taking place on July 24, 2020. Bates Compliance Managing Director Linda Shirkey will be speaking on the SEC Discussions panel at 9 a.m. (Mountain).

Events  |  07-13-20

Compliance Roundtable 7/15: Assessing, Fine-Tuning and Improving Your Business Continuity Plan

Join this virtual Compliance Roundtable on Wednesday, July 15, 2020, where our industry experts and guests will address Business Continuity Plan (BCP) design and implementation, including the unanticipated issues, gaps, and shortcomings that companies may have endured as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.