Sylvia Marie Scott

Sylvia Scott is a partner in our Los Angeles office and head of the firm's Securities Regulation Practice Group. Ms. Scott has successfully represented clients in numerous securities cases and investigations drawing from her 18 years of experience as a former enforcement attorney with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA, formerly known as the NASD).

Ms. Scott's practice focuses on all aspects of securities regulation and litigation. Ms. Scott represents members in the investment advisory and brokerage industry in private litigation, regulatory investigations and examinations, and regulatory enforcement actions. Ms. Scott has successfully represented numerous brokers and investment advisers in enforcement matters before the SEC, FINRA and state regulatory agencies. She has also successfully represented companies under regulatory scrutiny by the SEC and state regulators. Another aspect of Ms. Scott's practice includes advising companies regarding private placements, drawing from expertise gained while she served as a staff expert at FINRA with regard to private placements and underwritings.

As a former prosecutor and manager with both the FINRA and SEC, Ms. Scott has specialized knowledge of the challenging regulatory environment in which securities professionals must operate. During her 12-year career with NASD, Ms. Scott developed a reputation as a top notch securities litigator and expert in the broker-dealer industry. A Former FINRA Enforcement official stated in her departure announcement, "Without doubt, Sylvia has been one of the finest attorneys and litigators ever in this Enforcement Department. During her 12 years with us, we have come to respect her formidable litigation abilities and to count on those talents in a number of high visibility cases. In addition to her enforcement

Most recently, Ms. Scott won two cases in which FINRA filed enforcement actions against certain financial advisors in which it was variously alleged that the financial advisors had made unsuitable recommendations, misrepresentations, and other alleged misconduct.   These victories are particularly noteworthy as the regulator invariably has the upper-hand in enforcement litigation as they have the benefit of substantial discovery before a complaint is filed, as well as tremendous litigation resources.  

Ms. Scott has also obtained dismissals in multiple FINRA arbitrations wherein certain brokers were falsely accused of variously engaging in inadequate supervision, unsuitable recommendations, trading improprieties, among other things.  Additionally, Ms. Scott has obtained significant monetary awards for claimants in the context of broker dealer employment disputes, as well as other disputes.   

Ms. Scott is also a frequent speaker at securities conferences, an author of numerous industry article and is frequently engaged to testify and/or consult as an expert on securities matters.