Robert S. Banks

Background

Bob Banks has been practicing law for 42 years, and has been a nationally recognized leader in investor rights law. His cases have been featured in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Investment News, Business Journal, The Oregonian, and a host of other publications. In addition to his law practice, Bot served as an adjunct professor at Cornell Law School from 2022-2024 for the Cornell Securities Litigation Clinic, and was an adjunct professor teaching an advanced business law seminar at Lewis and Clark Law School in Oregon from 2014-2017.

When he was practicing law full time, Bob represented individuals, plaintiff classes, organizations and groups bringing claims relating to investment advice and securities law violations. Bob has been active in rulemaking and the improvement of investor protections for many years. He served on FINRA’s National Arbitration and Mediation Committee for more than ten years representing investor interests. He chaired the NAMC’s Rules and Procedures subcommittee, which writes the rules governing FINRA arbitration. He is a past president and current member of the Board of Directors of the Public Investor Advocates Bar Association, and is one of only a handful of board members ever honored with Director Emeritus status. Bob served on and chaired a number of Oregon State Bar Committees and regularly worked with state and federal securities regulators advocating for investor protections.

Currently, Bob is not accepting any new clients. He spends his work time assisting his lawyer-son Nico on his cases. Additionally, Bob maintains an active practice as a mediator and arbitrator, and has served as an arbitrator in more than 100 commercial, consumer and securities cases.

Honors

• 2017 Investor Champion Award, given to a single individual by the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA)
• Selected for inclusion in Oregon Super Lawyers – every year that it has existed in Oregon.
• Recipient, President’s Award, Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association (PIABA) “For Leadership Efforts In Protecting Investors Throughout the Country”
• Recipient, Distinguished Service Award, Federal Bar Association, Oregon Chapter
• Included in Chambers Best Lawyers In America
• Recipient, Highest Rating, Martindale Hubbell Law Directory – 25 consecutive years
• Selected for membership in Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum

Past Bar Leadership Positions Held

• Past President and 9 year board member, Public Investors Advocates Bar Association
• Chair, Oregon State Bar Securities Regulation Section
• Chair, Oregon State Bar Alternative Dispute Resolution Section
• President, Federal Bar Association, Oregon Chapter
• Chair, FINRA Arbitrator Training Task Force
• Member, Board of Directors, American Constitution Society, Oregon Chapter
• Member, American Constitution Society National Federal Judicial Selection Committee
• Chair, Rules and Procedures Subcommittee for FINRA’s NAMC
• Chair, FINRA Discovery Task Force

Selected Publications

• PIABA Bar Journal Vol. 21, No. 3 2014, “Muzzling the Claimant: Due Process Denied in FINRA Expungement Hearing”
• Practicing Law Institute, 1 Securities Arbitration 2006 at 225, “The NASD’s Explained Awards Rule Filing”
• Practicing Law Institute, 1 Securities Arbitration 2003 at 253, “Clearing Firms and the 2002 Uniform Securities Act: What You Didn’t Know Could Have Hurt You”
• Practicing Law Institute, Securities Arbitration 2001 at 565, “Clearing Firms, The Uniform Securities Act, and Koruga v. Fiserv Correspondent Services, Inc.”
• Practicing Law Institute, Securities Arbitration 2000 at 995, ”Investor Protection-Not! SIPC and The Securities Investor Protection Act of 1970″
• Practicing Law Institute, Securities Arbitration 2008″ A Comment On the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority’s Proposed Rules On Motions To Dismiss”

Notable Speaking Engagements

• Division of Finance and Corporate Securities, “FINRA Arbitration 101 for Regulators” (August 2015)
• Oregon State Bar 35th Annual Northwest Securities Institute, “Ethics Issues for Securities Lawyers” (April 2015)
• Oregon State Bar Securities Regulation Section Meeting, “What Every Securities Lawyer Should Know About Arbitration, Forum Selection, and Choice of Law Provisions” (January 2014)
• North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA), Washington D.C.,  “Remedies and Recompense: An Examination of Securities Arbitration and Class Action” (October 7, 2013)
• 33rd Annual Northwest Securities Institute seminar, “Recent Developments at FINRA,” (May 2013)
• Oregon Trial Lawyers Association Business Litigation Section Meeting, “Securities Arbitration Cases” (February 2011)
• Northwestern School of Law at Lewis & Clark College – Advanced Business Law Seminar, “Brokerage Firm Liability” (January 2011)
• Northwest Securities Institute CLE, “Investment Portfolio and Brokerage Statement Danger Signals”
• Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association Annual Meeting, Jacksonville, Florida, “Selected Developments in Broker-Dealer Arbitration” (October 2010)
• Northwest Securities Institute Portland, Oregon, “Recent Developments in Securities Arbitration and Broker Dealer Regulation” (February 2009)
• NASAA (North American Securities Administrators Association) Enforcement Conference, “Trends in Broker-Dealer and Investment Advisor Fraud From The Investor Attorney Perspective” (October 2009)

Notable Court Decisions

• Amerivest v. Maloof, Oregon Court of Appeals,No. A144457 (Pending)(Representing North American Securities Administrators Association as Amicus Curiae)
• Boyer v. Salomon Smith Barney, Inc. 344 Ore. 583 (2008) Representing Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association as Amicus Curiae)
• Houston v. Seward & Kissel, LLP, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 23914 (March 27, 2008)
• Marshall, et al. v. McCown DeLeeuw, 391 F. Supp. 2d 880 (D. Idaho 2005)
• Estate of Aguirre v. Koruga (I) 2002 U.S. App. LEXIS 14632 (9th Cir. 2002)
• Koruga v. Fiserv Correspondent Services, Inc.,183 F. Supp.2d 1245 (D.Or. 2001), 2002 U.S. App.LEXIS 6439 (9th Cir. 2002)
• Ciuffitelli v. Deloite and Touche, LLP, D. Or. 2016 No. 3:16 CV 00580
• Measure 8 Ventures, LP v. Khanna, Multnomah County Cir. Ct. No. 22-CV-00946

Education

• BA Reed College, 1977
• JD University of Wisconsin Law School 1982 (Deans List, Legal Writing Instructor)

Prior Clients

Bob served a broad array of individuals, organizations and groups, including physicians, teachers, gas pipeline workers, attorneys, judges, investment advisors, accountants, NBA basketball players, a former US Congressman, FINRA (opposing broker expungement), North American Securities Administrators Association and Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association (as amici curiae), retirees, and many others who have been victims of negligent investment advice and fraudulent conduct.

Community Service

• Mock Trial Instructor
• Youth Baseball Coach

Personal

Grew up in New York and New Jersey, and based in Oregon for 35+ years; married 30 years to Valerie Banks; two sons; Former frequent marathon runner (2:46 PR), and current runner, ski touring participant, and fly fisherman living the good life in Bend, Oregon.