If you work in securities, then you are likely familiar with FINRA investigations in general, but becoming the subject of one can be overwhelming and confusing. Your best course of action is to hire a New York criminal defense attorney as soon as possible, even if no charges are pending against you/

As a securities professional, FINRA is up there with the NYSE and SEC in terms of regulating activity. As part of their mission, these agencies are charged with investigating fraud and other illegal activity. It is common to feel like you are demonstrating your innocence by trying to cooperate with these parties, but they are not necessarily on your side. In fact, employees from these agencies will  try to get a statement from you and use any information you provide them with to delve into matters further. In order to ensure that someone is protecting your rights and interests, you should hire a New York criminal defense attorney sooner rather than later. This is the best way to reduce any anxiety about such an investigation.

Whether you are being investigated for margin violations, insider trading, stock fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, stock market manipulations, unauthorized trading, or churning, you should take any hint of a FINRA investigation seriously. An investigation can easily turn­­ into complaints in federal court or even administrative hearings, which could lead to being questioned by  other regulatory officials. Even if you know that you are innocent and that you have nothing to hide, you should not speak to anyone in this capacity until you have had the opportunity to consult with your attorney.

Do not make the mistake of avoiding a consultation with a criminal defense attorney; even if the investigation against you eventually terminates, it is very valuable to know what to expect and how to proceed in the interim. Julie Rendelman is a criminal defense attorney and a former prosecutor with over 22 years of experience practicing law.  She handles federal and state criminal cases, including cases related to financial regulations. Ms. Rendelman offers free consultations at 212-951-1232 . Visit Ms. Rendelman’s website at www.RendelmanLaw.com to learn more.