Jason Pickholz Certified As A Neutral FINRA Arbitrator
The Pickholz Law Offices is pleased to announce that Jason Pickholz has been certified as a neutral FINRA arbitrator.
About FINRA
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) is a not-for-profit self-regulatory organization authorized by the U.S. Congress “to protect America’s investors by making sure the broker-dealer industry operates fairly and honestly.”
FINRA is overseen by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).
As of February 12, 2019, FINRA supervises 3,712 broker-dealer firms and 629,112 brokers.
FINRA Arbitration
According to FINRA’s website, “FINRA operates the largest securities dispute resolution forum in the United States, and has extensive experience in providing a fair, efficient and effective venue to handle a securities-related dispute.”
As explained on FINRA’s Arbitration Overview page:
Arbitration is an alternative to litigation or mediation in order to resolve a dispute. Arbitration panels are composed of one or three arbitrators who are selected by the parties. They read the pleadings filed by the parties, listen to the arguments, study the documentary and/or testimonial evidence, and render a decision. The panel’s decision, called an “award” is final and binding on all the parties.
FINRA’s Overview page adds that:
Arbitration is similar to going to court, but is usually faster, cheaper and less complex than litigation. It is a formal alternative to litigation in which two or more parties select a neutral third party, called an arbitrator, to resolve a dispute. The arbitrator’s decision, called an award, is final and binding.
Arbitration statistics from FINRA’s website (Feb. 12, 2019)
Requirements To Become A FINRA Arbitrator
To be certified as a neutral FINRA arbitrator, applicants must:
- complete a lengthy application;
- pass a background check;
- be approved by the Neutral Roster Subcommittee of the National Arbitration and Mediation Committee (NAMC);
- complete FINRA’s Basic Arbitrator Training Program;
- pass FINRA’s basic arbitrator examination with a score of 80% or higher;
- complete FINRA’s Expungement Training Program; and
- pass FINRA’s expungement examination with a score of 80% or higher.
A neutral FINRA arbitrator is not an employee of FINRA. A neutral FINRA arbitrator is an independent contractor.
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About the Pickholz Law Offices LLC
The Pickholz Law Offices LLC is a law firm that focuses on representing clients involved with investigations conducted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, FINRA, and other securities regulators.
The Pickholz Law Offices has represented employees, officers, and others in SEC whistleblower cases involving financial institutions and public companies listed in the Fortune Top 10, Top 20, Top 50, Top 100, Top 500, and the Forbes Global 2000. We were the first law firm ever to win an SEC whistleblower award for a client on appeal to the full Commission in Washington. Inside Counsel magazine named this achievement one of the five key events of the SEC whistleblower program. Examples of the Firm’s SEC whistleblower cases are available here.
In addition to representing SEC whistleblowers, since 1995 the Firm’s founder, Jason R. Pickholz, has also represented many clients in securities enforcement investigations conducted by the SEC, FINRA, the U.S. Department of Justice and US Attorney’s Offices, State authorities, and more. Examples of some of the many securities enforcement cases that Mr. Pickholz has been involved with are available here.
You can see what actual clients have had to say about The Pickholz Law Offices by going to the Client Reviews page on our website or by clicking here.
How to Contact the Pickholz Law Offices LLC
If you would like to speak with a securities lawyer or SEC whistleblower attorney, please feel free to call Jason R. Pickholz at 347-746-1222.
The Pickholz Law Offices remains open and will be fully operational through teleworking while we all grapple with this terrible pandemic. We hope that all of our clients, colleagues, friends, and their families remain safe and healthy. Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone who has been affected by COVID-19.