Janet DeCosta

Janet has also served as an expert witness, bringing her extensive experience to the clear and direct explanation of sophisticated financial and regulatory issues. Whether appearing before a FINRA arbitration panel or a jury, she has the ability to distill complex issues into understandable and persuasive terms.

A tenacious advocate

Janet has worked on both sides of issues affecting investors, broker-dealers, advisory firms, and financial advisors, giving her a well-rounded perspective on the challenges facing participants across the financial services industry. She has represented industry participants in investigations and proceedings before the SEC, FINRA, and state regulators.

Janet also advises financial advisors navigating career transitions, including those who have been terminated by their firms, are pursuing new opportunities in the industry, are facing contractual disputes, or are planning for retirement.

This breadth of experience gives Janet a nuanced understanding of the complexities of financial services disputes and helps her identify practical, creative resolutions tailored to her clients’ needs.

An empathetic representative

Before law school, Janet was a special education teacher and social worker. After graduating from law school, she was selected for the highly competitive Criminal Division Honors Program at the United States Department of Justice, where she prosecuted Nazi war criminals. Her work took her around the world to conduct depositions of Holocaust survivors and other witnesses, and she obtained judgments in two federal court cases. The experience not only provided a strong foundation for her litigation skills, but also taught her the importance of listening carefully and approaching people facing difficult circumstances with empathy.

Janet’s strong track record across a wide range of regulatory and litigation matters gives clients confidence in her ability to tackle complex issues. Just as important, her empathy and responsiveness help guide clients through what can be an extraordinarily difficult and stressful time. Combining assertive advocacy with genuine understanding, Janet has a simple message for her clients: I’m here to help you sleep at night.