Prof. Christine M. Lazaro
Of Counsel

Christine Lazaro is Assistant Dean of Co-Curricular Programs, Professor of Clinical Legal Education and the Director of St. John’s University School of Law, Securities Arbitration Clinic where she supervises students who represent small investors in negotiation, mediation and arbitration.

Professor Lazaro is a member of the Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association (PIABA) Board of Directors and Executive Committee and cochairs PIABA’s Fiduciary Standards Committee.  Professor Lazaro is the recipient of the 2012 PIABA Outstanding Service Award for her service and contributions to PIABA.

Prior to joining the Securities Arbitration Clinic, Prof. Lazaro worked for a boutique law firm, Davidson & Grannum, founded by the former head of litigation at PaineWebber.   While at Davidson & Grannum, she represented both brokers and broker-dealers in customer disputes in both arbitration and mediation.  Prof. Lazaro also represented firms in disputes with their former employees dealing with promissory notes, as well as other employment law issues.  She has appeared before the EEOC on an employment discrimination claim on behalf of an individual.  Prof. Lazaro was also the lead attorney at the firm dealing with advising broker-dealers regarding their investment contracts with several municipalities and other government entities.  She has brought and defended motions to vacate arbitration awards.

While in law school and college, Prof. Lazaro worked in a branch of MetLife.  While at MetLife, she got exposure to all aspects of a branch’s business, including processing applications and placing trades, working with life insurance underwriters, recruiting new brokers, and dealing with customer complaints.

Publications

The Obligations and Regulatory Challenges of Online Broker-Dealers and Trading Platforms, co-authored with Teresa Verges, PIABA 30th Annual Meeting Materials (2021), republished, 29 No. 1 PIABA B.J. 25 (2021)

An Overview of BrokerCheck and the Central Registration Depository, co-authored with Albert Copeland, 28 No. 3 PIABA B.J. 425 (2021)

An Overview of the Regulation Best Interest Rule Package, PIABA 28th Annual Meeting Materials (2019), updated and republished, 27 No. 3 PIABA B.J. 357 (2020)

Supervision and Compliance of Brokerage Firms, 24 No. 3 PIABA B.J. 435 (2017)

Keys to Successful Motions to Compel, co-authored with Paul Radvany, New York State Bar Association Program Materials for “Securities Arbitration and Mediation 2012 – The Basics Evolve” (2012)

The Arbitrator Selection Process, co-authored with Paul Radvany, New York State Bar Association Program Materials for “Securities Arbitration and Mediation 2012 – The Basics Evolve” (2012)

Financial Abuse of the Elderly, PIABA 21st Annual Meeting Materials (2012)

A Summary of the SEC Study on Investment Advisors and Broker-Dealers, PIABA Bar Journal, 18 PIABA B.J. 55 (2011)

Fiduciary Duty – Now and in the Future, PIABA Bar Journal, 17 PIABA B. J. 129 (2010)

Financial Abuse of the Elderly:  Protecting the Vulnerable, co-authored with Lisa Catalano, PIABA Law Journal, 15 PIABA B.J. 1 (2008); republished, Journal of Securities Law, Regulation & Compliance, Henry Stewart Publications, 3J. Sec. L. Reg. & Comp. 5 (2010)

The Existence and Scope of the Fiduciary Duty in the Broker-Customer Relationship: a 50 State Survey (and D.C.), PIABA 18th Annual Meeting Materials (2009)

Directing the Arbitration, New York State Bar Association Program Materials for “Securities Arbitration and Mediation 2009 – The New World” (2009)

Expungement Developments, co-authored with Sandra Grannum, New York City Bar Association Program Materials for “Securities Arbitration Hot Topics 2005” (2005)

Prof. Lazaro also writes for the New York State Bar Association Securities Litigation and Arbitration Committee Blog

Bar Admissions
  • New York
  • U.S. District Court Southern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court Eastern District of New York
  • New Jersey
  • U.S. District Court District of New Jersey
Education
  • Fordham University School of Law, New York, New York
  • New York University, New York, New York
    • B.A., Bachelor of Arts – 1997
    • Major: Chemistry
    • Major: Politics
Professional Associations and Memberships
  • New York State Bar Association, Securities Litigation and Arbitration Committee Member
  • New York State Bar Association, Dispute Resolution Section Member
  • The Association of the Bar of the City of New York
  • The Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association
Past Employment Positions
  • Davidson & Grannum, LLP
  • MetLife Financial Services, Inc.