FINRA Intends To Promote Hybrid Arbitration Hearings
From the Desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law:
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) may permit remote participation in arbitration proceedings moving forward, according to FINRA chief executive Robert Cook.
FINRA initially suspended all in-person arbitration hearings because of social distancing risks when the pandemic began in March 2020. In August, FINRA restarted in-person arbitration hearings in all of its 69 nationwide sites. However, there still exists demand to conduct arbitration proceedings over Zoom or to allow some witnesses to testify remotely, according to Cook. Prior to resuming in-person hearings, lawyers representing client claimants against brokerages or representatives in the FINRA arbitration system voiced concerns about remote arbitration.
Additionally, the Public Investors Advocate Bar Association (PIABA) recently reported that remote arbitration hearings benefit brokerages and harm clients. PIABA subsequently urged FINRA to resume in-person arbitration hearings, and the self-regulator accommodated that request as vaccinations rates continued to climb and with certain, additional precautions.
Eccleston Law LLC represents investors and financial advisors nationwide in securities, employment, regulatory and disciplinary matters.
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