On-Demand Webinar >>>
On March 12, 2024, the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO) revealed its exam priorities for the year. These priorities shed light on the focus areas for upcoming exams across all dealers, particularly emphasizing the second phase of the client-focused reforms (CFRs).
In collaboration with the Canadian Securities Administrators, CIRO’s examinations will delve into registrants’ compliance with various CFR obligations, including Know Your Client, Know Your Product, and the enhanced suitability determination requirements implemented on December 31, 2021.
Join an essential webinar on April 10th at 1 p.m. ET, featuring industry experts Lawyer Chris Somerville, Lawyer and CEO Nancy Mehrad and Chief Compliance Officer Birju Shah, for a discussion centered on helping you and your firm master the CIRO exam priorities.
At InvestorCOM, we thrive on simplifying the complex. Our tailored solutions are finely tuned to CIRO’s focus areas, helping you turn compliance into your firm’s ultimate advantage.
Meet Your Speakers
Chris Somerville, Partner, Affleck Greene McMurtry LLP
Chris brings a creative, strategic, and practical approach to litigation. His wide-ranging experience and expertise encompass numerous areas of law, including corporate/commercial, securities, employment, construction, product liability, asset recovery, and administrative law. Chris has represented clients as lead counsel at the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, Court of Appeal for Ontario, and Ontario Securities Commission. Beyond Ontario courts and tribunals, Chris has advocated before the Canadian International Trade Tribunal, Canada Border Services Agency, and the Federal Court of Appeal. He is proud to have acted for national and international corporations, investment dealers and advisors, insurance companies, labor unions, charities, high-net-worth individuals, and working families.
Chris is also honored to be legal counsel for the Canadian Crime Stoppers Association and Ontario Association of Crime Stoppers. He has published on the subject of informer privilege in The Advocates’ Journal and has presented at the Canadian Institute’s Law of Policing Conference.
Nancy Mehrad, Lawyer and CEO, Registrant Law
Nancy Mehrad is a securities lawyer and CEO of the law firm, Registrant Law, and advises her clients in the areas of securities law and regulatory compliance. Registrant Law (www.registrantlaw.com) provides securities law and regulatory compliance services. Nancy has over 20 years’ experience advising investment dealers, portfolio managers, and investment fund managers. Nancy is currently a member of the Ontario Securities Commission’s Securities Advisory Committee and was a nominee of Canadian Lawyer’s Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers in Business Law in 2022. Nancy has extensive in-house experience in the investment management industry, supporting the advisory, distribution, and asset management sides of the business, and previously worked as Legal Counsel at CIRO. Nancy currently teaches at Osgoode Hall Law School’s Intensive Course in Canadian Securities Law and Practice and was previously Adjunct Assistant Professor at Queen’s University Law School, teaching securities law.
Birju Shah, Chief Compliance Officer, CWB Wealth
As leader of the compliance team, Birju works closely with colleagues fostering a culture of compliance that ensures all stakeholders comply with industry regulations. He partners with wealth advisors and the company’s leadership to help deliver an unrivalled client experience that fully adheres to regulatory requirements. Birju finds that partnership between compliance and wealth advisors allows his client-facing colleagues to remain compliant while reducing the administrative burden and risk exposure.
Birju has more than a decade of experience in compliance and supervisory roles for full-service financial institutions. Within Canadian Western Financial, he has held progressively senior roles in areas of supervision, audits, complaint management and policy formulation. Birju holds a Bachelor of Management from the University of Lethbridge.
Randy Barnes, Director of Product & Sales Engineering, InvestorCOM
Randy Barnes has spent the majority of his professional career in the financial services technology space. With over 25 years of experience, Randy has managed and developed technology for large-scale enterprise clients as well as smaller broker-dealers and registered investment advisor firms. Randy’s professional passion is helping the customer and bringing a customer-centric focus to everything.
Parham Nasseri, Vice President Regulatory Strategy, InvestorCOM
Parham Nasseri has spent his career translating complex regulatory requirements into technology solutions that improve investor and advisor outcomes. He has over 15 years of regulatory and wealth management experience, including senior roles in regulatory analytics, digital transformation, and investment analytics.
Parham currently serves as Vice President, Product & Regulatory Strategy at InvestorCOM, a leading software solutions provider for the financial services industry. He serves on several advisory boards including Ontario Securities Commission’s Investor Advisory Panel, CFA Societies’ Canadian Advocacy Council, The Canadian RegTech Association, and Junior Achievements of Central Ontario. He is also the host of the Wealth Compliance Leaders series.