Bob Lawson to Speak at the PIABA Annual Meeting

Credentials are easy to verify. Fit is harder.

On Tuesday, October 27 at 2:15 p.m., I’ll join fellow panelists for “How to Select an Expert” at the 2026 PIABA Annual Meeting at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs. We’ll discuss practical considerations in selecting and vetting expert witnesses, including qualifications, relevance, and reliability.

The conversations between sessions are another part of the meeting I value — the opportunity to exchange perspectives, reconnect with longtime colleagues, and meet others working in securities arbitration and litigation.

If you’re attending, please send me a direct message or introduce yourself. I look forward to seeing you there.

#ExpertWitness #SecuritiesArbitration #FINRA #PIABA2026

Bob Lawson Publishes Article on The Broker-Dealer Exclusion

Member Highlight — SER member Robert “Bob” Lawson recently published an article titled “The Broker-Dealer Exclusion and the Fiduciary Question: An Analytical Framework for Arbitrators” in Volume 33, No. 1 of the 2026 PIABA Bar Journal. The article presents a neutral, conduct-based framework for evaluating the “solely incidental” component of the broker-dealer exclusion under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. It examines the distinction between episodic brokerage services and ongoing advisory relationships, explains how the SEC’s 2019 Interpretations IA-5248 and IA-5249 operate in separate analytical lanes, and distinguishes the broker-dealer exclusion inquiry from Regulation Best Interest’s recommendation-specific obligations. The article also identifies communications, account-review records, supervisory materials, and other evidence that may help arbitrators assess the actual scope and character of the services provided.

Read the Full Article

FINRA Proposal to Modernize Rule 2210 for Social Media and AI Challenges

FINRA proposes modernizing Rule 2210 to address social media and AI communication challenges, replacing prescriptive pre-use approval with risk-based standards, streamlining filing requirements, and clarifying supervision of retail communications. The changes aim to balance innovation, efficiency, and investor protection, allowing firms to tailor procedures based on communication risk factors and technological advances.

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