News

Compliance and Regulatory Alerts  |  10-26-20

This Week in Reg BI: SEC-FINRA Roundtable and Bates Compliance-Global Relay Webinar “REG BI - 120 Days On”

Today, October 26, 2020, the SEC and FINRA staff will hold a remote public roundtable to discuss their observations on the implementation of Regulation Best Interest (“Reg BI”) and Customer Relationship Summary disclosure form (“Form CRS”) since mandatory compliance began on June 30, 2020. Following the program, on Wednesday, October 28, 2020 at 2 pm ET / 11 am PT, Bates Compliance will hold its own webinar with Global Relay to discuss “Reg BI - 120 Days On.”

Bates Research  |  10-22-20

SEC Chair and Director of Enforcement Review the Record

In a likely preview of the SEC Division of Enforcement 2020 Annual Report, SEC Chair Jay Clayton and Division of Enforcement Director Stephanie Avakian gave back-to-back speeches regarding the agency’s enforcement record since they took the reins in 2017. In context, these speeches presented a strong accounting of the impact the Division has had on the financial industry during their tenure. The remarks, delivered last month to the Institute for Law and Economics at the University of Pennsylvania Law School, also raised some of the important challenges to the SEC’s enforcement priorities presented by COVID-19. Here are the highlights from their speeches.

Events  |  10-21-20

Upcoming Webinar: REG BI - 120 Days On

Reg BI came into effect on June 30, 2020 and 120 days on, Global Relay and Bates Compliance experts Donald McElligott, Hank Sanchez and Robert Lavigne will assess the impact the biggest change to regulation in years has delivered. Wednesday, October 28, 2020 at 11:00 AM Pacific / 2:00 PM Eastern.

Events  |  10-14-20

Bates is a Proud Gold Sponsor of the 2020 NSCP National Conference

Bates is a proud Gold sponsor of the 2020 NSCP National Conference, October 19-21, 2020. Bates Compliance Manging Director and NSCP Board member Linda Shirkey will be speaking on Day 1 of the conference.

Events  |  10-14-20

CxO Friday Insurance Industry Roundtable - Webcast with Sheila Murphy October 16, 2020

Bates Group expert and consultant Sheila Murphy will be appearing Friday, October 16, 2020 on the Insurance Industry CxO Roundtable webcast. Sponsored by In The House, a private network for General Counsel and other in-house attorneys.

Bates News, Bates Research  |  10-13-20

Important Takeaways from SIFMA-Bates Virtual Branch Office Compliance Visits Webinar

On Monday, October 5, 2020, nearly 700 Compliance, Supervision, Risk, Legal and Regulatory experts and professionals tuned in to a panel discussion covering virtual branch office inspections and the challenges facing regulators and industry supervision and compliance teams. The webinar, jointly organized by Bates Compliance and SIFMA, reviewed the current requirements and status of branch office inspections, recent regulatory relief, and compliance expectations for on-site inspection requirements going forward. Here are some important takeaways from this discussion.

Bates News  |  09-24-20

Announcing Our Newest Experts

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

• Gary Ferrari - AML, Financial Crimes, Global Compliance Risk Management
• Barbara A. Halper, JD, MBA - BD-IA Compliance, Seniors and Vulnerable Investors, Compliance Testimony
• Timothy McClendon, CIC, CWCA - Insurance, Workers’ Compensation, Risk Management
• Edward Truax - Insurance and Annuities, 401K/Pension/Retirement, Elder Issues

Compliance and Regulatory Alerts  |  09-21-20

FINRA Enforcement Turns Up Heat on Mutual Fund Direct Business and Firms That Are Brokers of Record

FINRA Enforcement has recently initiated enforcement actions concerning mutual funds and brokers of record centering around client impact, remediation, and other issues. Read the full Alert to learn more about FINRA Enforcement's focus on "brokers of record," and other products on the regulator’s radar.

Events  |  09-18-20

SIFMA Webinar Series - Monday, October 5, 2020 - Virtual Branch Office Compliance Visits

In this complimentary CLE webinar, hear directly from compliance and risk leaders, including FINRA, on the latest updates concerning virtual branch office compliance visits. Jill Ehret (Director, Bates Compliance) will appear on the panel, moderated by Paul Tyrrell (Partner, Sidley Austin), with opening remarks by Bates CEO Jennifer Stout. October 5, 2020 at 1 p.m. Eastern, co-hosted by SIFMA and Bates Compliance.

Compliance and Regulatory Alerts  |  09-18-20

OCIE Warns Against Emerging Cyber Threat of “Credential Stuffing”

On September 15, 2020, the Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (“OCIE”) issued an alert urging investment advisers and broker-dealers to review their customer account protection safeguards and identity theft prevention programs. The impetus behind the alert is an increase in the number of cyber-attacks using a tactic called “credential stuffing,” observed during recent examinations. OCIE also disclosed a number of practices firms are using to mitigate this emergent risk.