SRFC has a long-standing reputation in the securities industry, with this clientele being a core focus of the firm since its founding in 1998. Our attorneys have deep collective experience in representing broker-dealers and other financial industry participants in securities law and transactional matters, as well as various litigation, arbitration and regulatory matters.
Our corporate and litigation attorneys provide a cross-platform service offering for our broker-dealer clients. We provide effective solutions to a range of complex legal matters, including (among others):
- Securities offerings and other transactions
- Litigation and arbitration matters
- SEC compliance matters
- FINRA compliance matters
- Broker-dealer registration
- Compliance reviews and internal controls
Capital Markets Transaction Advisory – Broker-Dealers
Attorneys in our Corporate and Securities Department guide our broker-dealer clients through the fast-paced world of capital markets with precision and confidence. Whether it’s an IPO, a follow-on equity offering, a PIPE transaction, a private placement or an alternative structure, our team brings deep market knowledge and practical insight to every transaction.
We have extensive experience advising investment banks on a broad spectrum of securities transactional matters — from deal structuring and due diligence to drafting and negotiating underwriting and placement agent agreements, reviewing offering materials, and coordinating with issuers, auditors, and regulators. We stay ahead of evolving SEC, FINRA, and stock exchange regulatory frameworks to help our broker-dealer clients manage risk, meet disclosure obligations, and close deals efficiently.
Our team has been recognized in various national securities league table rankings as placement agent counsel, including:
- Number five “most active” placement agent counsel among securities law firms nationwide in the PlacementTracker™ PIPE and Private Placement league table rankings for 2024 ─ 18 transactions totaling $83.8 million
- Number six “most active” placement agent counsel among securities law firms nationwide in the PlacementTracker™ PIPE and Private Placement league table rankings for Q1 2025 ─ 5 transactions, totaling $29.4 million
Our approach is responsive, commercial, and focused on execution. We understand what drivers move deals forward — and what obstacles can hold them back. With a keen eye on compliance, liability exposure, and market trends, we provide underwriters and placement agents with the legal clarity and confidence needed to bring successful offerings to market.
For more information regarding our capital markets practice capabilities, please visit the webpages listed below.
Securities Litigation – Broker-Dealers
Attorneys in our Litigation and Arbitration Department have extensive experience prosecuting, defending and counselingbroker-dealers, investment banks, prime brokers, and other financial industry participants, and their officers and management, on a wide range of disputes arising from compliance, internal controls, and transactions, including violations of federal and state securities laws, business torts and contract disputes, compensation and covenants litigation, fraudand negligent misrepresentation, among others.
Regulatory Defense – Broker-Dealers
Our litigators understand that regulatory investigations and enforcement actions commenced by the SEC, FINRA and state-level securities offices directly and immediately impact careers and businesses. Therefore, we are proactive, aggressive, and discreet in our defense of clients. We advise clients on all aspects of securities regulatory defense, including securities inquiries and investigations, interviews, proffers, testimony, Wells submissions, negotiated resolutions, and the full range of administrative and civil enforcement proceedings through hearing or trial and after on appeal (administrative and judicial). We pursue strategies that help our clients resolve matters, resist governmental overreach and maintain client competitiveness.
Securities Arbitration – Broker-Dealers
Our arbitration team has extensive experience representing national, regional and independent brokerage firms, investment advisors, officers, directors, brokers, placement agents and finders, in customer and industry mediations and arbitrations before FINRA Dispute Resolution, the American Arbitration Association and JAMS, among other alternative dispute resolution forums. Our nationwide practice vigorously prosecutes and defends matters involving violations of federal and state securities laws, fraud/misrepresentation/omission, negligent supervision, suitability, unauthorized trading, improper trading, churning, breaches of fiduciary duty and contract, violations of restrictive covenants/theft of trade secrets, employee raiding, placement agent disputes, violations of rights of first refusal, compensation disputes, IPO allocations, defamation, employment discrimination, harassment and retaliation claims, best execution disputes, product failures, clearing disputes, selling away and broker expungements.
Broker-Dealer Registration and Membership
Attorneys in our Litigation and Arbitration Department also advise clients on broker-dealer registration (federal and state) and membership (SEC, FINRA and other exchanges), including with regard to broker-dealer formation, the preparation of New Membership Applications, amending Membership Agreements of existing broker-dealers, obtaining FINRA or other exchanges’ approval for changes in ownership or control of broker-dealers, purchasing and selling existing broker-dealers, developing and analyzing compliance manuals and supervisory procedures for broker-dealers, counseling broker-dealers on sales practice rules and regulations, conducting annual compliance meetings, and conducting independent annual Anti-Money Laundering reviews.
For more information regarding our securities litigation, regulatory defense, and arbitration practice capabilities (and related capabilities), please visit the webpages listed below.
Team Members
