Omar H. Bengali on FINRA Expungement Changes at PLI’s Securities Arbitration 2023

Omar H. Bengali, Esq., recently had the honor of participating in the Practicing Law Institute’s Securities Arbitration Conference 2023, which took place on September 7th in New York City. This annual event gathers FINRA Dispute Resolution leaders, arbitrators, academics, and attorneys specializing in securities arbitration and mediation.

Focused Panel on New Changes to Expungement Procedures in FINRA

Mr. Bengali was a panelist in a session specifically focused on the “New Changes to Expungement Procedures in FINRA Effective October 16, 2023.” Moderated by Tracey Salmon-Smith, the panel also featured esteemed colleagues Barry R. Lax and Angela Saffoe. The discussion provided a deep dive into the upcoming changes to FINRA’s expungement procedures.

Key Insights from the Panel

The panelists, including Mr. Bengali, shed light on several critical areas:

• Understanding the new procedures governing expungements effective October 16, 2023
• Recognizing the impact these new procedures will have on the arbitration process
• Sharing best practices for handling expungements under the new rules

Why Understanding the New Procedures is Crucial

The upcoming changes to expungement procedures are significant for both customers and industry professionals. It’s crucial for attorneys who represent customers, brokers, or broker-dealers in securities arbitration to be well-versed in these new procedures along with mediators, arbitrators and other professionals in the securities field.

Additional Highlights from the Conference

Beyond the panel, the conference also explored other vital topics, such as ethical challenges in utilizing AI assistance, conflicts of interest, and the prioritization of diversity and inclusion in FINRA arbitrations.

Acknowledgments

Mr. Bengali would like to extend his gratitude to the organizers and his fellow panelists for making this a successful and enlightening event. He is eager to contribute to future discussions and remains at the forefront of developments in securities arbitration.