Christopher H. Tovar worked in the securities industry as a registered representative with two national brokerage firms before becoming an attorney specializing in securities arbitration before NASD and NYSE (now FINRA) panels and litigation in court settings. He has represented investors seeking redress in cases involving the full range of brokerage negligence and fraud issues, from unsuitability to churning, failure to supervise, selling away, mishandling of incentive stock options, investment banking fraud and conversion. He has also represented brokers and brokerage firms in defending against such claims, as well as brokers who have been wrongfully terminated or who have had false and defamatory statements placed on their U-4/U-5 records by their employers. Mr. Tovar has also served as general counsel and chief compliance officer to a FINRA member broker dealer and SEC-registered investment advisor, where he handled arbitration and litigation matters, and legal and compliance risk management, as well as product due diligence in the securities and insurance contexts. In both his capacities as general counsel and chief compliance officer, he has worked closely with the SEC, FINRA and state regulators on audits of these entities, and in establishing firm best practices. He has authored and edited written supervisory procedures for both broker dealers and registered investment advisors, state and federally registered, and worked with both types of entities in establishing and improving supervisory systems. He has also served hedge funds in these capacities. Mr. Tovar is experienced in non-solicit and non-compete issues as they relate to brokerage firms, and has successfully resolved corporate raiding matters for both claimants and respondents in several states. View More ?
21 years of experience