Christopher Grobbel

Chris Grobbel counsels clients on broker-dealer and securities market regulation, including compliance and supervision. Chris represents clients in SEC and FINRA matters, including on broker-dealer formation and registration and ongoing compliance. Chris has a wide array of specialized experience at the SEC relating to broker-dealer compliance with SEC and FINRA regulations, SRO rules, market structure, Regulation NMS compliance, Regulation ATS, equity and options trading, AML compliance, Market Access Rule compliance, cybersecurity, financial technology and cryptocurrency, and communications with the public.

Chris’s unique experience gives him both breadth and depth of understanding of the securities laws and regulatory approach applicable to broker-dealers, SROs, ATSs, and other industry participants.

Prior to joining Goodwin, Chris served at the SEC as counsel in both the Division of Trading and Markets and the Division of Examinations. Among other significant matters, Chris advised on SEC rulemaking to amend broker-dealer order routing disclosures and led examinations of broker-dealers and of FINRA itself, focusing on AML compliance, digital assets and cryptocurrency, SEC Market Access Rule compliance, FINRA Market Regulation, FINRA Enforcement, cybersecurity, communications with the public, ATS compliance, research, and FINRA Rule 2241 compliance, among others.

While at the SEC, Chris regularly interacted with FINRA, other SROs, and industry participants, including to facilitate amendments to market-wide Regulation NMS plans. Chris reviewed SRO Form 1 submissions and Form ATS submissions for compliance, drafted approval orders for ETFs and ETPs, and advised on trading matters such as complex orders and order types. Chris also drafted approval orders for corporate governance rule filings such as SEC Rule 10C-1 compliance and golden leash disclosure requirements and special purpose acquisition companies. During his SEC tenure, Chris served on the SEC’s digital assets working group.

During his time at the SEC, Chris was a three-time recipient of the Divisions of Examination’s Four Pillars Award recognizing excellence in improving compliance, preventing fraud, monitoring risk, and informing policy. Chris was awarded for his work in reviewing FINRA Enforcement matters, enhancing restitution to harmed investors, and broker-dealer cybersecurity. Likewise, The Legal 500 2026 recognizes Chris as a recommended lawyer for his work in Financial Services Regulation. He was also listed in the 2026 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America, which recognizes him for his high-caliber work in Financial Services Regulation Law.

• Contributor, “FINRA Adds Continuing Membership Application Requirement to Address Brokers with a History of Misconduct,” Goodwin Client Alert, July 1, 2021

Speaking Engagements

• Speaker at the Virginia CLE 2024 Annual Business Law Seminar discussing the SEC’s evolving approach to regulating cryptocurrency and digital assets
• Moderator, FINRA Regulatory Review, 2024 NSCP National Conference