
Paul A. Merolla
https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-merolla-3a750435New York, NY 10036
T: (212) 880-3960
F: (212) 922-2870
Mr. Merolla focuses his practice on securities regulation affecting broker-dealers and investment advisers.
Mr. Merolla has substantial experience advising financial institutions and their senior management on a variety of matters - trading, sales and research; equities and fixed income products, including municipal securities; insider trading; market manipulation; market structure; compliance; mergers and acquisitions; cross-border matters; corporate governance; litigation and arbitration; regulatory and internal investigations; books and records requirements; policies and procedures; FINRA new member and continuing member applications; and personnel matters. He has extensive experience with mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities, as well as experience in bankruptcy and liquidation proceedings. He also has served numerous times as an independent consultant/examiner pursuant to regulatory settlements.
Prior to joining Murphy & McGonigle, Mr. Merolla served for over 20 years as a senior in-house counsel within the securities industry – most recently as General Counsel of a public company, Instinet Group Incorporated, and its affiliated broker/dealers, the main businesses of which were an equities trading platform and institutional equities brokerage. His responsibilities covered global legal, compliance and internal audit functions. Mr. Merolla had previously served as senior legal counsel to two large, international, fully-diversified investment banks and broker/dealers, Goldman Sachs & Co., Inc. and Drexel Burnham Lambert Incorporated.
In his years of practice both as in-house counsel and in private practice, Mr. Merolla has regularly communicated with the SEC, FINRA, state regulators, and foreign regulators on regulatory and enforcement matters. As a former General Counsel, Mr. Merolla understands the role and demands associated with being in-house counsel and is able to advise clients on a host of issues faced daily by in-house attorneys.
Mr. Merolla is a current member and Past President of the SIFMA Compliance and Legal Society and regularly speaks at the Society’s conferences. He periodically serves as a FINRA arbitrator.
Mr. Merolla has been regularly recognized by industry rankings services in Banking and Finance Law, Securities / Capital Markets Law, and Securities Regulation by ‘Best Lawyers in America.’ He has also been honored for his Securities and Corporate Finance work by New York Metro.
Practice Areas
- Broker-Dealer Advisory & Counseling
- Independent Monitoring & Independent Consulting
- International Advisory
- Investment Advisory
- Trading & Markets Counseling
Professional Affiliations
- New York Bar Association
- Member - New York City Bar Association
- Member - SIFMA Compliance and Legal Division Executive Committee
- Member, 1983 – 2006; Past President, 2006 - Present - SIA Federal Regulation Committee
- Member, 2004-2005 - SIA Compliance and Legal Division
- President, 2005-2006
Awards and Recognition
-
Lawyer of the Year and Nine Lawyers Recognized in Best Lawyers in America 2021
(08/20/2020)
-
James Murphy Named ‘Lawyer of the Year’; Eight Others Earn Best Lawyers in America Recognition
(08/15/2019)
-
Nine Murphy & McGonigle Lawyers, 10 Practices Earn Honors in 2019 Best Lawyers in America
(08/15/2018)
-
Ten Murphy & McGonigle Listed in 2016 Super Lawyers
(10/10/2016)
-
Murphy & McGonigle Chairman James Murphy Receives "Lawyer of the Year" Recognition in The Best Lawyers in America
PR Newswire | (08/27/2013)
-
Murphy & McGonigle Partners Recognized Among The Best Lawyers in America® for 2013
(11/20/2012)
Publications
-
SEC Adopts Rule 15l-1 to Require Broker-Dealers to Act in Best Interest of Retail Customers
(06/12/2019)
-
SEC Settlements Spotlight Auditors Gone Wild
Law 360 | (10/07/2016)
-
Auction Rate Securities: Probes, Arbitrations and Lawsuit
SIFMA-CL | (03/30/2008)
-
Principles-Based versus Rules-Based: What Really Matters, Crain's Investment News
Investment News (Subscription Required) | (11/19/2007)
Seminars and Presentations
-
"Institutional Fixed Income," Panelist, SIFMA 2019 C&L Annual Seminar, Phoenix, AZ
03/27/2019 | (03/21/2019)
-
Murphy & McGonigle 2018 CLE Breakfast Series: Best Execution & Pricing (Equity & Fixed Income)
10/04/2018 | (09/14/2018)
-
Ethical Issues for the Securities Lawyer
03/21/2011 | (03/11/2011)
-
Ethics for the Business Attorney
05/05/2010 - 05/07/2010 | (05/05/2010)
-
"Electronic Communications" SIFMA Compliance and Legal Division Annual Seminar Panel
03/25/2009 | (03/25/2009)
-
“Capital Markets - Trading Issues for the Global Firm” Panel, SIFMA Compliance and Legal Division New York Fall Compliance Seminar
11/11/2008 | (11/11/2008)
-
“Internal Compliance Examinations (Large Firms)” Panel, NSCP 2008 National Membership Meeting, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
10/22/2008 | (10/22/2008)
-
"Corporate Governance" SIFMA Compliance and Legal Division 40th Annual Seminar
03/31/2008 | (03/31/2008)
-
SIFMA Compliance and Legal Division Regional Seminar, “Recent Developments in Compliance”
10/25/2007 | (10/25/2007)
-
“Market Structure” SIFMA Compliance and Legal Division Annual Seminar Panel
03/25/2007 - 03/28/2007 | (03/27/2007)
In the News
-
Merolla Will Lead Law Firm's New York Office
PR Newswire | (06/16/2010)
Education
- J.D., cum laude, Fordham University School of Law, 1974
- B.A., Political Science, Fordham University, 1968
Admissions
- New York
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York