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People
Michael Watling represents financial institutions and executives in regulatory enforcement and white-collar matters. Michael is an experienced trial lawyer, having served as a federal prosecutor in the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Tax Division where he was lead trial counsel in matters concerning tax fraud, tax shelter promoters, mortgage fraud, money laundering, and other white-collar offenses.
Michael also spent seven years at the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) where he served as Senior Litigation Counsel in the Department of Enforcement. While at FINRA, Michael acted as lead trial counsel in many of FINRA’s most complex and programmatically important litigated matters and led dozens of matters from investigation through contested disciplinary proceedings concerning, among other things, securities fraud, market manipulation, AML and supervision failures, and a wide range of sales practice violations.
Michael also served as a Deputy Associate Counsel in the Office of the White House Counsel during the administration of President Barack Obama. While at the White House, Michael vetted presidential appointees and counseled the president and vice president on tax-related matters. Michael started his legal career as an Assistant District Attorney in Queens County, New York.
Credentials
J.D., Hofstra University School of Law
B.A., University of Washington-Seattle Campus
New York
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
U.S. Tax Court
Close
Recognition
Six-time recipient of FINRA’s Premier Achievement Award
Presented for exemplary work and dedicated service to the organization and its mission
Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division Honoree
Presented mutually by four IRS field offices for outstanding contribution prosecuting nationwide tax fraud (2010)
Two-time recipient of US Department of Justice Tax Division Special Commendation Award
2008, 2010
US Department of Justice Outstanding Attorney Award
2009
News
Cases & Deals
May 22, 2020
King & Spalding Wins Dismissal of Fraud Charges Against Clients Shopoff Securities and its Principals
In the News · Source: Law360 and Global Legal Chronicle
In the News · Source: RIA Intel
September 23, 2019
Michael Watling discusses Altruist, the new digital, commission-free custodian that was launched this month
Matters
Successfully defended Shopoff Securities, Inc. and its principals in a FINRA disciplinary proceeding, securing complete exoneration for entity and principals and complete dismissal of Complaint.
Successfully defended registered representative in FINRA cause examination involving expense reporting concerns, resulting in termination of examination with no enforcement action.
Negotiated settlement resolving multi-year investigation into broker-dealer supervision and reporting of registered representatives’ liens and judgments.
See more
Close
Matters
Successfully defended Shopoff Securities, Inc. and its principals in a FINRA disciplinary proceeding, securing complete exoneration for entity and principals and complete dismissal of Complaint.
Successfully defended registered representative in FINRA cause examination involving expense reporting concerns, resulting in termination of examination with no enforcement action.
Negotiated settlement resolving multi-year investigation into broker-dealer supervision and reporting of registered representatives’ liens and judgments.
Represented numerous public companies in fraud surveillance inquiries conducted by FINRA’s National Cause and Financial Crimes Detection Program.
Conducted internal investigation for public company concerning potential insider trading preceding $20 billion merger announcement.
Advised a state-chartered trust to establish KYC procedures and anti-money laundering program for new business line involving foreign counterparties.
Represented fixed income trader in DOJ Antitrust Division investigation.
Conducted tax- and financial crimes compliance-related due diligence for wealth management division of global financial institution.
Represented multiple witnesses in federal criminal trial in connection with a forensic accounting investigation conducted by a global accounting firm.
Insights
Client Alert
August 18, 2020
SEC Examiners Warn of COVID-Related Compliance Risks for Broker-Dealers and Investment Advisers
Article · Source: Practical Law
July 1, 2020
Transatlantic Business Crime and Investigations June Column
News
Cases & Deals
May 22, 2020
King & Spalding Wins Dismissal of Fraud Charges Against Clients Shopoff Securities and its Principals
In the News · Source: Law360 and Global Legal Chronicle
In the News · Source: RIA Intel
September 23, 2019
Michael Watling discusses Altruist, the new digital, commission-free custodian that was launched this month
Matters
Successfully defended Shopoff Securities, Inc. and its principals in a FINRA disciplinary proceeding, securing complete exoneration for entity and principals and complete dismissal of Complaint.
Successfully defended registered representative in FINRA cause examination involving expense reporting concerns, resulting in termination of examination with no enforcement action.
Negotiated settlement resolving multi-year investigation into broker-dealer supervision and reporting of registered representatives’ liens and judgments.
See more
Close
Matters
Successfully defended Shopoff Securities, Inc. and its principals in a FINRA disciplinary proceeding, securing complete exoneration for entity and principals and complete dismissal of Complaint.
Successfully defended registered representative in FINRA cause examination involving expense reporting concerns, resulting in termination of examination with no enforcement action.
Negotiated settlement resolving multi-year investigation into broker-dealer supervision and reporting of registered representatives’ liens and judgments.
Represented numerous public companies in fraud surveillance inquiries conducted by FINRA’s National Cause and Financial Crimes Detection Program.
Conducted internal investigation for public company concerning potential insider trading preceding $20 billion merger announcement.
Advised a state-chartered trust to establish KYC procedures and anti-money laundering program for new business line involving foreign counterparties.
Represented fixed income trader in DOJ Antitrust Division investigation.
Conducted tax- and financial crimes compliance-related due diligence for wealth management division of global financial institution.
Represented multiple witnesses in federal criminal trial in connection with a forensic accounting investigation conducted by a global accounting firm.
Insights
Client Alert
August 18, 2020
SEC Examiners Warn of COVID-Related Compliance Risks for Broker-Dealers and Investment Advisers
Article · Source: Practical Law
July 1, 2020
Transatlantic Business Crime and Investigations June Column
News
Cases & Deals
May 22, 2020
King & Spalding Wins Dismissal of Fraud Charges Against Clients Shopoff Securities and its Principals
In the News · Source: Law360 and Global Legal Chronicle
In the News · Source: RIA Intel
September 23, 2019
Michael Watling discusses Altruist, the new digital, commission-free custodian that was launched this month
Credentials
J.D., Hofstra University School of Law
B.A., University of Washington-Seattle Campus
New York
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
U.S. Tax Court
Close
Recognition
Six-time recipient of FINRA’s Premier Achievement Award
Presented for exemplary work and dedicated service to the organization and its mission
Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division Honoree
Presented mutually by four IRS field offices for outstanding contribution prosecuting nationwide tax fraud (2010)
Two-time recipient of US Department of Justice Tax Division Special Commendation Award
2008, 2010
US Department of Justice Outstanding Attorney Award
2009