2024 PIABA Mid Year Meeting

PIABA Mid-Year Meeting: will be held in-person and virtually on Friday, April 5, 2024. The one-day CLE program is designed for attorneys, paralegals, regulators, educators, experts, consultants, mediators and (securities) arbitrators.

PIABA Mid-Year Meeting Agenda

Thursday, April 4, 2024 - State Regulator Session

4:00pm - 5:30pm
Protecting more investors with less resources: leveraging the power of an equity receiver
State regulators are perpetually underfunded and understaffed, yet charged with protecting investors against what seems like an ever-larger pool of bad actors.  What to do? An equity receiver can step in and, as an arm of the court, move swiftly to marshal assets for distribution to the stakeholders at no expense to the state.  We’ll feature a wide-ranging discussion regarding who appoints receivers, the role of the state securities regulator and the attorney general, the powers of a receiver in state versus federal court, the effect of the SEC or other federal regulators’ interest in the case, and receiver compensation.  We’ll also discuss the pros and cons of bankruptcy versus receivership.
Moderator: Andrea Seidt
Speaker: Travis Iles, Mark Dottore, Jonathan Perlman, Tung Chan

Friday, April 5, 2024 - Mid-Year Meeting

9:30am - 10:30am
“Receivership” doesn’t have to be a dirty word
You’ve got a great Ponzi scheme case with a collectible defendant, but a Receiver was just appointed.  Did you just lose all your claims, or is the Receiver actually going to be an asset for you and your client?  We’re going to discuss how Receivers are appointed, what they can do, and where we can help them or they can help us and our clients.
Moderator: Hugh D. Berkson
Speakers: Andrea Seidt, Jonathan Perlman, Mark Dottore

10:45am - 11:45am
Lies, Damn Lies, and FINRA Statistics
FINRA’s arbitration award database provides a trove of datapoints for academics to gather, crunch, and analyze. This panel will provide insights from current statistical research about what may be going on in FINRA arbitration.
Moderator: Benjamin Edwards
Speakers: Jeremy McClane, Nicole Iannarone

1:00pm - 2:00pm
Trying Alternative Products Cases
Over the last decade, small to mid-sized brokerage firms generated millions of dollars in fees and commissions by developing and selling “Alternative Investments”.  Often, retirees and unsophisticated investors were lured in to investing in these products by the promise of above-market returns in the form of monthly income distributions as well as perceived shelter from the volatility of the stock market.  This panel will explore the intricacies of these products and discuss why trying an alternative product case requires a different approach than a standard suitability case.  You will hear from both experienced Claimant’s and Respondent’s attorneys about their strategies and experiences in trying alternative product cases. By the end of the session, we anticipate that the panel will have provided a thoughtful framework to litigate and try cases involving alternative products.    
Moderator: Jonathan Kurta
Speakers: Michael Ference, Kirk Smith

2:00pm - 3:00pm
It’s Not Just FINRA Arbitration Anymore
FINRA is no longer the only game in town. As more brokers migrate into the Investment Advisor space and are no longer bound by FINRA arbitration, their contracts often contain dispute resolution clauses with other dispute resolution fora such as AAA and JAMS. Similarly, the sale of specific products, such as futures, may invoke the jurisdiction of other dispute resolution organizations such as the National Futures Association (“NFA”). Our panelists will discuss the general types of investment disputes heard, the rules applicable to investor claims, the composition of their neutral rosters, and other insights into filing and litigating claims through their various organizations. We will also open up the discussion to allow time for questions from our members.
Moderator: Melanie Cherdack
Speakers: Heather Cook, Jennifer Rego, Jeffrey Garcia

3:15pm - 4:15pm
AI, the SEC, and Changing Investor Landscape
New technology, rules, and SEC issuances have all arrived on the scene.  This panel will discuss the SEC’s current approach to regulating artificial and other technology as well as recent issuances from SEC Staff.  The panel will also discuss the recent Massachusetts Supreme Court decision allowing a fiduciary regulation to go forward.  The panel aims to present these recent developments with a focus on what they may mean for investor claimants and investor cases. 
Moderator: Michael Bixby
Speakers: Benjamin P. Edwards, James Fallow Tierney

5:30pm - Closing Reception

Mid-Year Meeting Registration
PIABA is now accepting meeting registrations for PIABA Mid-Year Meeting which will be held in-person and virtually. Please note that a $100 fee increase will apply to all registrations received on or after March 1, 2024.  

Mid-Year Meeting Continuing Education
PIABA will apply for continuing legal education (CLE) accreditation in all States where registrants request CLE credit on the Meeting Registration Form. In general, registrants may expect to receive 5-6 hours of credit. PIABA will apply for MCLE credit for individuals registered by February 9, 2024. After that date, PIABA will assist registrants seeking credit for the meetings, but will not be responsible for filing CLE applications or the application late fees. 

Meeting and Registration Policies 
PIABA reserves the right to change speakers and/or session topics at any time for any reason without notice. Audio and video taping of conference events, general sessions, and break-outs is strictly prohibited. Individuals requiring financial assistance (reduction or waiver of the registration fee) may petition PIABA for such consideration. For more information, visit Meeting and Registration Policies.