FINRA's Overhaul of Arbitrator Selection System Moves Forward

Posted on October 3rd, 2023 at 1:11 PM
FINRA's Overhaul of Arbitrator Selection System Moves Forward

From the desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law 

FINRA has received approval to revamp its procedures for removing arbitrators from the three-member panels responsible for arbitration matters involving claims between and among financial advisors, their firms, and customers.

The changes, among other things, formalize FINRA's existing practice of allowing arbitrators to be replaced before an arbitration hearing commences. They also mandate that the director of dispute resolution services must document the reasons for accepting or rejecting a request to remove a specific panel member.

Under the new rule, arbitrators can be removed due to various conflicts of interest, such as prior dealings with a party involved in a particular case. The rule further requires the director of dispute resolution services to meticulously review the arbitrators' names on the shortlist for a given case to identify and address these conflicts.

 

Eccleston Law LLC represents investors and financial advisors nationwide in securities, employment, transition, regulatory, and disciplinary matters.

Tags: eccleston, eccleston law, finra

Return to Archive

TESTIMONIALS

Previous
Next

Jim, Stephany and the whole team were a God send.  We felt like we were put into a situation where we had no advocate. Jim’s team came in with a strong, well laid out strategy on how to get our story heard. Where our outside compliance company had no ability to help, our Broker Dealer was impenitent, and the regulators were aggressive pursuing vague rules, Jim came like a barricade against an assault we did not understand. Though you pay member dues to be affiliated with FINRA and a B/D, you have no voice. The only thing that is truly heard in this un-level playing field is a bulldog’s bark like Jim’s. I would encourage anyone to call Jim and his team to find a real ally in the tough and complicated world of securities regulation. They are truly the best.

Greg P.

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

October 21, 2025
Judge Denies Merrill Lynch's TRO in Advisor Transition

A federal judge has rejected Merrill Lynch’s request for a temporary restraining order (TRO) against a group of former financial advisors who left the firm to launch their own independent practice, OpenArc Corporate Advisory, under Dynasty Financial Partners’ platform with custody at Charles Schwab.

October 20, 2025
FINRA Accuses Former MML Broker of Cheating on SIE Exam

Regulators have accused a former MML Investors Services-affiliated broker of cheating on the Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) exam, according to a recent Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) enforcement complaint.

October 17, 2025
FINRA Fines Oak Hills Securities for Private Placement Misconduct

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has censured and fined Oak Hills Securities Inc., an Oklahoma City brokerage, for multiple rule violations over five years.