Lori H. Patterson

Shareholder

Memphis
T: 901.577.8241
F: 901.577.0768

Lori Patterson, chair of the Financial Services Litigation & Compliance Group, represents broker-dealers, registered investment advisers, financial institutions, and public companies in securities litigation and arbitration, regulatory matters, and SEC and FINRA investigations and actions.

Featured Experience

Successfully defended broker-dealer and registered representatives in FINRA arbitration in case involving the sale of alternative real estate investments.

Successfully defended broker-dealer in FINRA arbitration in case involving the sale of non-traded REITs.

Successfully defended registered investment adviser in state court action in case arising out of recommendations to purchase CDO products. Summary judgement affirmed on appeal.

Professional Biography

These matters include customer initiated arbitrations and litigation; enforcement proceedings and investigations by the SEC, FINRA and state securities regulators; and intra-industry disputes such as "raiding" claims, claims related to non-competition agreements, the theft of trade secrets and injunctive proceedings. Specifically Ms. Patterson has extensive experience in defending claims and regulatory actions related to private placements, complex products, and fixed income securities.

Prior to joining Baker Donelson, Ms. Patterson held a clerkship with The Honorable John C. Godbold, United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit from 1997 to 1998. Ms. Patterson works from our Memphis office.

Securities Litigation and Defense of Broker-Dealers and Registered Investment Advisers
Successfully defended broker-dealer and registered representatives in FINRA arbitration in case involving the sale of alternative real estate investments.
Successfully defended broker-dealer in FINRA arbitration in case involving the sale of non-traded REITs.
Successfully defended registered investment adviser in state court action in case arising out of recommendations to purchase CDO products. Summary judgement affirmed on appeal.
Defended broker-dealer in a class action concerning due diligence performed as lead underwriter on municipal bond offering. Obtained dismissal of case on the pleadings.
Defended broker-dealer in SEC investigation involving L Shares. Received clearance letter from Enforcement Staff.
Defended broker-dealer in a federal court action alleging violations of federal and state securities laws, aiding and abetting breach of fiduciary duties, and commercial bribery in the wake of the bankruptcy of a registered investment adviser.
Defended broker-dealer and bank dealer in civil litigation and in securities arbitrations arising out of sale of CDO products.
Defended municipal advisors in SEC investigations arising out of municipal bond offerings.
Defended broker-dealer in SEC investigation into municipal bond offering. No action taken.
Frequent representation of broker-dealers and investment advisers in connection with regulatory cycle and for cause examinations.
Represented numerous broker-dealers and registered investment advisers in litigation and in arbitrations involving claims of unsuitability, unauthorized trading, misrepresentation, churning, failure to supervise and breach of fiduciary duty.
Frequent defense of broker-dealers and registered investment advisors in SEC enforcement actions.
Frequent defense of broker-dealers and their registered representatives in FINRA enforcement actions.
Successfully brought suit against former employees who attempted to raid clients and/or usurp corporate opportunities.
Negotiated favorable settlement for regional wealth management firm against alleged FINRA rule violations involving a former registered representative.

Listed in The Best Lawyers in America^® in Commercial Litigation (2015 – 2023); Municipal Litigation (2018 – 2023); Securities Regulation (2020 – 2023); Arbitration (2021 – 2023)
Named the Best Lawyers' 2022 Memphis Arbitration "Lawyer of the Year"
Named the Best Lawyers' 2021 Memphis Securities Regulation "Lawyer of the Year"
Listed in Mid-South Super Lawyers in Securities Litigation (2012 – 2022)
Listed in Mid-South Rising Stars (2011)
Founder – Memphis Chapter of the Homeless Experience Legal Protection (HELP) Clinic, legal clinic servicing homeless individuals
Board Member – Community Alliance for the Homeless
Member – Tennessee, Alabama and American Bar Associations
Past Member – Leo Bearman, Sr. Inn of Court
Adjunct Professor – Legal Research and Writing, University of Memphis School of Law (2001 – 2002)

"Fifth Circuit Declares SEC's Quasi-Judicial Process Unconstitutional," republished in Texas Lawyer (May 2022)
"SEC/FINRA Guidance Signals that Broker-Dealers Must Strengthen Branch Exam Processes" (December 2011)

Co-presenter – "Banking and Financial Industry Trends for In-House Counsel," Webinar (August 2022)
Panelist – "The Cannabis Conundrum: How to Raise Capital and Market Investments for Cannabis Companies," Blue Vault Alts Week 2022 Event (March 2022)
Panelist – "Complex Products and Due Diligence Requirements: Hot Topics," Financial Markets Association's (FMA) 2021 Securities Compliance Webinar (April 2021)
"How to Prepare for the SEC's New Standards of Conduct Rulemaking Package" (December 2019)
"How to Prepare for the SEC's New Standards of Conduct Rulemaking Package" (September 2019)
"The SEC's Proposed Rules, Interpretations, and Forms on the Standard of Conduct for Broker-Dealers and Investment Advisers" (June 2018)
"Action Steps for Complying with Fiduciary Rule and Protecting Senior Investors," Baker Donelson's Broker Dealer/Investment Adviser Fall Compliance Roundtable (November 2016)
Co-Panelist – "Securities Enforcement by SEC, State, and Private Parties," with Stephanie Avakian, SEC Enforcement, AILA EB-5 Summit (October 2016)
Speaker – "Cybersecurity: What Broker-Dealers, Investment Advisers, Management and Compliance Need to Know," Fall Compliance Roundtable (October 2015)

Understanding and Applying the CFP Board's New Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct (November 2019)
How to Prepare for the SEC's New Standards of Conduct Rulemaking Package (August 2019)

55 Baker Donelson Attorneys Named to 2022 Mid-South Super Lawyers; 30 Named to Mid-South Rising Stars (November 29, 2022)
Baker Donelson Attorneys Earn Recognition in The Best Lawyers in America® 2023 Listing (August 18, 2022)
61 Baker Donelson Attorneys Named to 2021 Mid-South Super Lawyers; 34 Named to Mid-South Rising Stars (November 30, 2021)
Baker Donelson Attorneys Earn Recognition in The Best Lawyers in America® 2022 Listing (August 19, 2021)
Baker Donelson Adds Fiduciary Litigator and Estate Planner Duane L. Pinnock (May 3, 2021)
69 Baker Donelson Attorneys Named to 2020 Mid-South Super Lawyers; 38 Named to Mid-South Rising Stars (November 30, 2020)
Baker Donelson Top-Listed in the Nation in Six Practice Areas in The Best Lawyers in America^® 2021 Listing (August 20, 2020)
77 Baker Donelson Attorneys Named to 2019 Mid-South Super Lawyers; 45 Named to Mid-South Rising Stars (November 6, 2019)
Baker Donelson Names New Leaders in Financial Services Department (June 17, 2019)
86 Baker Donelson Attorneys Named to 2018 Mid-South Super Lawyers; 43 Named to Mid-South Rising Stars (November 8, 2018)
277 Baker Donelson Attorneys Included in The Best Lawyers in America^® 2019 Listing (August 15, 2018)

Daily Business Review Highlights Addition of Duane Pinnock (May 10, 2021)
Charles Grant and Lori Patterson Quoted in Chalkbeat Tennessee on Lawsuit Challenging State's System of Funding Public Schools (September 25, 2018)

Understanding and Applying the CFP Board's New Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct (November 20, 2019)
How to Prepare for the SEC's New Standards of Conduct Rulemaking Package (August 28, 2019)

Practices

Industries

Education

Cumberland School of Law, Samford University, J.D., 1997, summa cum laude
- Articles Editor – Cumberland Law Review, 1996 – 1997
- Cordell Hull Research and Writing Teaching Fellowship, 1997
University of the South, B.S., 1993

Admissions

Tennessee, 1999
Alabama, 1997

Featured Media

55 Baker Donelson Attorneys Named to 2022 Mid-South Super Lawyers; 30 Named to Mid-South Rising Stars

Press Release / November 29, 2022

Baker Donelson Attorneys Earn Recognition in The Best Lawyers in America® 2023 Listing

Press Release / August 18, 2022

Fifth Circuit Declares SEC's Quasi-Judicial Process Unconstitutional

Publication / May 26, 2022

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Baker Donelson is a national law firm with more than 650 attorneys and public policy advisors representing more than 30 practice areas to serve a wide range of legal needs. Clients receive knowledgeable guidance from experienced, multi-disciplined industry and client service teams, all seamlessly connected across 22 offices in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.