Lisa M. Colone

Lisa M. Colone is a leading securities enforcement and arbitration defense lawyer representing broker-dealers, investment advisers, senior executives, and financial advisors. A former Vice President in FINRA’s Department of Enforcement and a former federal prosecutor, Lisa defends clients in FINRA and SEC investigations and enforcement matters, FINRA Dispute Resolution Services arbitrations, and related litigation.

Lisa joined CSG Law after serving as a Vice President in FINRA’s Department of Enforcement, where she led a team of more than 100 attorneys in investigating and enforcing violations of FINRA rules and federal securities laws. Lisa oversaw some of the Department’s most significant matters, including FINRA’s largest-ever settlement against a broker-dealer and cases that were featured in The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times.

Before FINRA, Lisa served in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, including as Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division. In that role, she supervised the prosecutions from the Office’s Economic Crimes Unit, including those related to securities fraud, insider trading, and market manipulation, among many others.

Securities Enforcement Defense

Lisa represents clients at every stage of the enforcement process, regularly handling:

• FINRA Rule 8210 requests
• SEC subpoenas
• On‑the‑record (OTR) testimony preparation and defense
• Pre-enforcement advocacy
• Wells submissions
• FINRA disciplinary proceedings and hearings
• SEC and state regulatory investigations and enforcement actions
• Parallel investigations involving the Department of Justice

Lisa provides early‑stage strategic guidance designed to mitigate exposure, avoid charges where possible, and position matters for favorable resolution. Drawing on her experience as a former federal prosecutor who tried numerous cases to verdict, Lisa brings courtroom credibility to litigate high-stakes disciplinary and regulatory matters when necessary.

Securities Arbitration & Civil Litigation

In addition to her enforcement defense work, Lisa maintains an active arbitration practice, particularly in matters before FINRA Dispute Resolution Services. Lisa regularly represents broker-dealers and financial advisors in:

• Customer disputes, including those involving allegations of fraud, suitability and Regulation Best Interest (Reg BI) violations, and failure to supervise
• Industry disputes, including those involving competitive departures and alleged violations of contractual and fiduciary duties
• Related court litigation seeking injunctive relief pending arbitration

Lisa manages all aspects of these matters, including drafting pleadings, overseeing discovery, engaging in motion practice, negotiating settlements, participating in mediations, and trying arbitrations at hearing to award. Lisa’s ability to navigate both arbitration and related court litigation gives clients seamless representation across the full lifecycle of a dispute.

Counseling Services

Lisa provides strategic counseling to financial services firms, advising on the application of federal securities laws, FINRA rules, and state regulatory requirements to their businesses. She regularly helps clients assess regulatory risk, strengthen supervisory and compliance programs, and navigate emerging issues in the evolving financial services landscape.

Thought Leadership

Lisa is an active contributor to the securities regulation community and a frequent speaker on enforcement trends and emerging issues in financial services. She has moderated panels at the SIFMA Compliance & Legal Annual Seminar and regularly co‑authors Client Alerts for CSG Law, providing timely analysis of regulatory developments affecting broker‑dealers and investment advisers.

Lisa is also committed to mentorship and service within the legal community. She serves as a mentor in the G.R.O.W. program within the Center for Women in Business (CWIB) at Rutgers Business School, where she supports mid-career professionals. She also is a regular guest lecturer at Seton Hall University School of Law.

Lisa also serves as Chair of the New Jersey State Bar Association’s Securities Law Committee, leading programming and policy discussions on securities‑regulation issues affecting practitioners across the state and beyond.

Honors

• Included in Chambers USA, New Jersey Litigation: Securities (2025-2026)
• Included in ROI-NJ, Influencers: Women List (2026)
• Included in ROI-NJ, Influencers: Women in Business (2025)
• Included in NJBIZ, Leaders in Law (2024)
• Completed the Analytics for FINRA Leaders course at the McDonough School of Business of Georgetown University
• Completed the FINRA Leadership Development Program at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania

Award Methodology
*No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.

Involvement

• American Bar Association
• New Jersey State Bar Association, Securities Law Committee, Chair (2025-2027)
• Rutgers Business School, Center for Women in Business (CWIB), G.R.O.W. Program Mentor

Education

• University of Virginia School of Law (J.D., 2002)
• University of Virginia (B.A., with distinction in Foreign Affairs & Italian, 1997)

Admissions

• New Jersey
• New York
• U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
• U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York