Securities Enforcement. Corporate Investigations. Financial Regulation.
Independent analysis of the laws, regulations, investigations, and enforcement actions shaping modern financial markets.
BRAEDEN ANDERSON
Braeden is one of the top securities lawyers in the country and was recognized by Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America in the Financial Services Regulation Law and Securities Regulation categories. This honor is awarded to only the top 2% of attorneys in the United States and is based on a comprehensive peer-review survey.
Braeden helped lead Gesmer Updegrove to recognition in The Legal 500 United States for Corporate Investigations & White Collar Crime, Tier 3, and Finance: Fintech, Tier 4.
Braeden is active in the U.S. securities enforcement community through Securities Docket, where he has served on the 2025 and 2026 Advisory Boards and contributed video commentary through the Weekly Update.
Braeden was named the #1 United States author in FinTech in Mondaq’s Spring 2025 Thought Leadership Awards, reflecting the national reach and influence of his writing on fintech, securities regulation, and digital asset policy.
Navigating FINRA’s New Residential Supervisory Location (RSL) Rule
In response to the growing trend of remote work since the COVID-19 pandemic, FINRA has introduced a new rule under its supervision framework, allowing firms to designate private residences as Residential Supervisory Locations (RSLs). This significant development provides firms with an opportunity to adapt their supervisory practices to a more flexible work environment while ensuring compliance with FINRA’s stringent supervision requirements. Effective June 1, 2024, FINRA Rule 3110.19 enables firms to treat certain residential locations as non-branch locations, offering relief from the annual inspection requirements that apply to branch offices and Offices of Supervisory Jurisdiction (OSJs).
FINRA Update on Crypto Asset Activities
On August 14, 2024, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) issued an important update regarding its ongoing efforts to engage with its members on the subject of crypto asset activities. Referred to as "crypto assets," these are defined by FINRA as assets issued or transferred using distributed ledger or blockchain technology. These assets include virtual currencies, coins, and tokens, which may or may not meet the definition of "securities" under federal securities laws.
Navigating New Risks: Key Insights from FINRA's 2024 Regulatory Oversight Report
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has recently issued its 2024 Annual Regulatory Oversight Report (the Report). This comprehensive 90-page document underscores evolving regulatory concerns and introduces several new areas of focus. Notably, the Report includes a dedicated section on cryptoasset developments and a detailed examination of market integrity topics, including the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Market Access Rule.
FINRA Proposes Rules to Implement New Securities Lending and Transparency Engine (SLATE™)
On May 1, 2024, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) proposed a new Rule 6500 Series to implement its Securities Lending and Transparency Engine (SLATE™). The new rule series is mandated by Rule 10c-1a under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Exchange Act), which was adopted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on October 13, 2023.
Cybersecurity Alert: FINRA Update on CrowdStrike IT Service Disruption
FINRA has issued a cybersecurity alert concerning a recent CrowdStrike service outage that has impacted Microsoft operating systems. This disruption, which began on July 19, 2024, is linked to a software update affecting CrowdStrike’s Falcon software. The Cyber and Analytics Unit (CAU) within FINRA’s Member Supervision program is actively monitoring the situation.