WASHINGTON, D.C. June 12, 2008—The North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) is bringing together leading arbitration experts for a public forum to discuss the current securities arbitration system and offer constructive steps to restore choice, fairness, and balance to the securities arbitration process.

The forum, Arbitration is Broken: How Can it be Fixed?, is scheduled for June 24 at the Intercontinental Barclay Hotel, 111 East 48th Street, in New York City. The Forum is free and open to the public on a first come, first serve basis. On-site registration and a light lunch begin at noon, with the program following from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Massachusetts Securities Division Director Bryan Lantagne will moderate the Forum, which will explore the manner in which arbitrations are conducted; whether the selection, qualification, and composition of arbitration panels is fair; and whether the arbitration process should be an option, not a requirement, for investors. Panelists also will discuss the Arbitration Fairness Act of 2007 (S.1782 and H.R. 3010, introduced by Sen. Russ Feingold, D-WI, and Rep. Hank Johnson, D-GA), and current research exploring consumer views on securities arbitration. Panelists include:

• Robert F. Schiff, Majority Chief Counsel, U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on the Constitution;
• Barbara Roper, Director of Investor Protection, Consumer Federation of America;
• Theodore G. Eppenstein, Senior Partner, Eppenstein & Eppenstein;
• Tanya Solov, Director, Illinois Securities Department;
• Jill Gross, Associate Professor of Law, Pace University School of Law;
• F. Paul Bland, Jr., Staff Attorney, Public Justice.

The panel will also feature statements from consumers about their experiences with the securities arbitration system. The Forum takes place against a backdrop of growing investor concern over the lack of fairness in the current mandatory arbitration system. A recent study released by the Securities Industry Conference on Arbitration (SICA) found that most investors view the current securities arbitration forum as biased and unfair.

To reserve a seat, please contact Lonnie Martin, at 202-737-0900 or lm@nasaa.org, by June 17.

NASAA is the oldest international organization devoted to investor protection. Its membership consists of the securities administrators in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Canada, and Mexico.

For more information:
Bob Webster, Director of Communications
202-737-0900