NYSE Witnesses
"NYSE Witnesses" refers to individuals who provide information to the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE"). The NYSE is not an agency of the United States Government. It is technically a private organization, or a "self-regulatory organization" (an "SRO"). The NYSE does not have jurisdiction over everyone; it only has authority over organizations that are Members of the NYSE and present and former employees of those organizations.
On July 30, 2007, the NYSE's member regulation, enforcement, and arbitration operations were combined with the National Association of Securities Dealers ("NASD") to form the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ("FINRA"). Today, FINRA conducts most of the investigations into fraud and securities violations committed by FINRA Member organizations and their employees (or "associated persons"), including those that are part of the NYSE. However, the NYSE may still investigate violations of its own Rules and other matters within its jurisdiction.
"NYSE witness" usually means someone who may have information about a violation of the NYSE Rules or federal securities laws. An NYSE witness may be someone who did nothing wrong but who came across some information that one or more other people may have committed a violation. An NYSE witness may also be someone who may have committed or helped others to commit a violation. But that is not always the case. Sometimes the NYSE thinks a person might have some information, but it is not certain. For example, this sometimes happens when the NYSE is investigating something and they want to talk to everyone who worked at a Member organization or in one of the organization's particular offices or departments, to find out who, if anyone, may know something about what the NYSE thinks happened.
If you would like information about The Pickholz Law Offices' experience representing NYSE Witnesses, or those who believe they may become an NYSE Witness, please feel free to click on the "Our Cases & Results" link and the other links on the right side of this page.