JEFFREY S. KOB
Jeffrey S. Kob is a securities litigation and arbitration attorney with legal experience spanning the last 40 years, as a clerk to two Federal Judges, as a FINRA arbitrator, as an SEC enforcement attorney, as general counsel to a large independent broker-dealer and as trial/regulatory counsel to various broker-dealers and registered representatives across the country. Mr. Kob is uniquely qualified to handle a variety of securities matters, due to the breadth of his securities and trial experience.
Mr. Kob has very successfully appeared as Lead Counsel in various federal and states courts and in over 400 securities arbitration’s before FINRA Dispute Resolution, the American Arbitration Association (AAA) and other bodies across the country. Mr. Kob has appeared and tried securities related matters in virtually every state in the Union, but for Alaska and the Dakotas.
Education
Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, IL. MA Economics, BA Psychology and Economics
2. Washington University in St. Louis, School of Law JD
While a law student at Washington University in St. Louis, Mr. Kob worked for Chief Judge James E. Meredith for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri.
Legal
In 1980, the Honorable James E. Barrett for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, selected Mr. Kob to be one of his three law clerks to assist the Court with the review of appellate briefs, research issues and drafting the opinions. Thereafter, the SEC recruited Mr. Kob and he joined the Los Angeles office as an Enforcement Attorney and later Branch Chief to a staff or attorneys, accountants and investigators.
Mr. Kob left the SEC to become the general counsel to one of the nation’s first independent contractor broker-dealers, First Affiliated Securities, Inc. (FAS), based in San Diego. Mr. Kob oversaw all aspects of FAS’ legal department including interfacing with NASD (at the time), federal and state regulators and managing the firm’s securities arbitration and litigation caseload. Mr. Kob also oversaw FAS’s general corporate matters.
After his stint in-house, Mr. Kob joined a securities litigation firm in downtown San Diego, He represented numerous broker-dealers and their associated persons in various arbitration and court forums around the country. While continuing to counsel independent broker-dealers, Mr. Kob and his partners participated in select plaintiff’s cases against other securities professionals that resulted in over $40 million in recoveries. Between his time in the industry and in private practice, Mr. Kob has amassed more than 40 years of securities arbitration and litigation defense experience.
Among other major litigation actions, he represented the prevailing party before the California Supreme Court on a key securities issue which affected all securities arbitration’s conducted in California. In Jevne v. Superior Court, 35 Cal. 4th 935 (Cal. 2005), Mr. Kob successfully convinced the California Supreme Court that federal securities law preempted certain California created arbitration rules. Mr. Kob has also acted as a NASD (now FINRA) arbitrator, often as the Chairperson of three member panels.
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Coronado Office
Historic Bank of Coronado Building
1172 Orange Avenue, Second Floor
Coronado, California 92118
Phone: 619.962.4784
Admitted to Practice
California
Colorado
Wyoming
Professional Activities / Other Qualifications
FINRA Arbitrator and Chairperson
REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS
Successfully represented owner of BD against claims of fraudulent conveyance and securities fraud in multi-million dollar claim by class of investors.
Successfully represented branch manager against claims of failing to supervise a registered representative accused of unauthorized trading, suitability and breach of fiduciary duty.
Successfully represented BD against claims breach of fiduciary duty and sale of unsuitable recommendations in the sale of Tenant in Common investments.
Successfully represented online BD in the claims of breach of fiduciary duty and fraud in short sale transactions involving hard to borrow stocks.
Successfully represented Registered Representative in note collection case brought by national BD.
Successfully represented Registered Representative in obtaining Expungement several years after the underlying case had been closed and parties no longer available.
Jevne v. Superior Court (2005) 35 Cal. 4th 935 – successfully convinced the California Supreme Court that federal securities laws preempted certain California legislative created arbitration rules governing all FINRA arbitrations in California.
Olson v. Steckler,et al, 2015 WL 5178436 - obtained pre-trial dismissal of breach of fiduciary duty claims brought by investors in a failed real estate investment in a three story office building in Arizona. The Court found that the investors were on notice of their claims as of the date of their investment based upon the written disclosures made to the investors.
Anteaus Capital Inc and Ceasar Moya . v Curtis Leahy, FINRA No.11-03181. The three person panel rendered an Award of $871,000 for Respondent Leahy. The Award was remarkable in that included SPECIAL FINDINGS - findings of fact and conclusions of law that Moya was a fiduciary and the alter ego of the Broker-Dealer, Anteaus, in a scheme to defraud Representative Leahy. Moya sought to Vacate the Award before the LA Superior Court and was denied. Moya sought bankruptcy protection and was denied because the Award contained findings of a Breach of Fiduciary Duty.
FINRA Department of Enforcement v. Glendale Securities, Inc. et. al. (2018)- Respondent Glendale prevailed at hearing and after appeal to the National Adjudicatory Committee (following DOE appeal) in a matter where DOE alleged multi-million dollar market manipulation/fraud and the sale of unregistered securities. DOE sought to Bar Glendale and its principals from the industry. Glendale prevailed over FINRA Enforcement after a two week hearing and prevailed again after appeal to FINRA’s National Adjudicatory Committee (NAC).
CLERKSHIPS
1979 - United States District for the District of Eastern Missouri clerk for the Honorable James H. Meredith, Chief Judge
1980 - United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit - clerk for the Honorable James E. Barrett, Circuit Judge
HONORS AND AWARDS
AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated Lawyer from LexisNexis Martindale Hubbell – The AV Peer Review Rating identifies lawyers with the highest rating in legal ability and ethical standards and is a reflection of an attorneys’ expertise, experience, integrity and overall professional excellence. The rating is the result of a peer review system based upon the confidential opinions of practicing attorneys and members of the judiciary.
Top Lawyers in San Diego – Securities Litigation & Arbitration
REPRESENTATIVE SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
“Going to Hearing: Developments in Arbitration” – Panel Moderator, REISA, 2013 Annual Conference, October 6-8, 2013
“Law and Compliance Update” – DFPG Annual Compliance Conference, May 1, 2013
“Arbitration 101” – Panel Moderator, REISA 2012 Spring Symposium, March 11-13, 2012
