News & Events

Bates Group has been tracking regulatory and enforcement developments on senior financial exploitation. Two recent publications and recent sweeping enforcement actions suggest that the phenomenon is becoming better understood and addressed. FinCEN published a strategic analysis after reviewing SARs filings over a six-year period, and NASAA has issued a statement and legislative update based, in part, on an enforcement analysis showing that the Model Act to Protect Vulnerable Adults is gaining traction. The Department of Justice, FBI and Postal Inspector jointly announced the results of “the largest coordinated sweep of elder fraud cases in history.” Bates Research takes a closer look.

Bates Compliance Practice Leader Robert “Bob” Lavigne is quoted in a new article entitled “Reg BI Compliance Race is On,” published by ThinkAdvisor.

If you’ve been in meetings about investor communications, business travel, or other contingency planning over the past few days and weeks, you are not alone. Since the outbreak of the coronavirus (also referred to as COVID-19) and more recently, the precipitous volatility of the financial markets, financial firms have been deluged with questions from just about every stakeholder group about how to respond. Regulators are weighing in as well. Bates looks at some of the efforts to prepare and reassure everyone out there.

As the June 30, 2020, date for compliance with the Regulation Best Interest (“Reg BI”) draws near, federal and state regulators are increasingly vocal in warning market participants about how they should treat client investors. Fortunately, the regulators have provided a constant flow of guidance and resources designed to help firms prepare.

Visit Bates Compliance at Booth #10 at the 2020 IAA Investment Advisor Compliance Conference to discuss your compliance needs and solutions on March 5-6  in Washington, D.C. and hear Bates Compliance Managing Director Robert Lavigne on the Vendor Due Diligence Panel.

Robert “Bob” Lavigne, Bates Compliance Practice Leader, will be participating in a joint webinar co-hosted with NICE Actimize entitled “Reg BI Countdown: Strategies to Ensure Compliance” Wednesday, March 4, 2020, 11:00 AM EST. 1 Hour.

Now Available On Demand.

On February 3, 2020, the New York County Lawyers Association hosted its “21st Annual FINRA Listens and Speaks” panel. The panel members discussed recent statistics, proposed regulations, and tips for counsel and arbitrators on the agency’s dispute resolution efforts. Bates takes a closer look at what you need to know. 

David Birnbaum and Linda Shirkey from Bates Compliance join AI Insights to help you gain an understanding of the SEC’s Regulation Best Interest rules ahead of the June 30 compliance date. 1 hour.

On the heels of their 2020 examinations priorities report, OCIE has issued a new report on “Cybersecurity and Resiliency Observations” to reemphasize that cybersecurity is a top examination priority and that registered entities should be assessing their practices and procedures to ensure adequate compliance. Bates Research takes a closer look at what OCIE wants you to know.

Bates Group is alerting counsel that we are seeing cases filed where firms sold private funds issued by GPB Capital Holdings LLC. It is alleged that firms selling these funds were negligent and failed to perform adequate due diligence when approving these funds for sale, misrepresented and omitted material information when recommending and/or selling these funds to their clients, had conflicting interests in selling the GPB Capital Funds, negligently supervised the sale of these funds and breached the fiduciary duty owed to their clients. 

Bates Managing Director and Expert Consultant Hank Sanchez will be speaking at the Nashville Compliance Roundtable on February 13, 2020, in Nashville, TN. Sponsored by TrustCore.

Bates Managing Director Linda Shirkey will be serving as a facilitator at a Regulation Best Interest (Reg BI) Compliance Workshop for FINRA-registered broker-dealers, SEC-registered investment advisers, and dual registrants on Tuesday, February 11, 2020, from 2:30 – 5 p.m. at the UT McCombs School of Business’ Center for Enterprise and Policy Analytics in Austin, Texas.

The Treasury Department’s Office of Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) issued an Annual Report to Congress highlighting the past year’s BSA and AML efforts and setting out strategic priorities and policy initiatives for the new year. The Comptroller says he wants to reduce the burden of BSA and AML compliance, while protecting the financial system. Bates Research takes a closer look at the OCC report and other recent AML-related developments.

Bates AML and Financial Crimes Managing Director Edward Longridge will be a panelist at SIFMA's Anti-Money Laundering and Financial Crimes Conference, February 5-6, 2020 in New York, NY. Bates Group is proud to be a returning sponsor and exhibitor at this year's event.

Bates Group is proud to welcome new Managing Director Jennifer L. Cunningham. She is an accomplished and seasoned financial services professional with over 20 years of experience in broker-dealer branch office management, risk and supervision, suitability, operations, sales support, Human Resources and customer communications. A former Director at UBS in New Jersey and New York City and former Vice President at the Merrill Lynch Fifth Avenue flagship office, Ms. Cunningham comes to Bates from another consulting firm, where she provided expertise in support of broker-dealer litigation and customer complaint matters, prepared FINRA broker-dealer New Member Applications, and served as lead project manager for specialized regulatory and compliance consulting retentions.

In his cover note accompanying FINRA’s annual Risk Monitoring and Examination Priorities letter, FINRA President and CEO Robert Cook reminded members of significant enhancements to the examination program going forward. Bates Research has analysis, commentary and highlights of FINRA’s continuing and emerging concerns, along with our 2020 FINRA chart, which keeps track of articulated priorities from year to year.