Proposed Rule Change to Amend the FINRA Codes of Arbitration Procedure to Increase Arbitrator Chairperson Honoraria and Certain Arbitration Fees

Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) is filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC” or “Commission”) a proposed rule change to amend the Code of Arbitration Procedure for Customer Disputes (“Customer Code”) and the Code of Arbitration Procedure for Industry Disputes (“Industry Code”) (together, “Codes”) to increase arbitrator chairperson (“Chair”) honoraria.  Specifically, the proposed rule change would: (1) increase the additional hearing-day honorarium Chairs receive for each hearing on the merits from $125 to $250 and (2) create a new $125 Chair honorarium for each prehearing conference in which the Chair participates.  Under the proposed rule change, these increases would be funded primarily by minimal increases to the member surcharge and process fees for claims of more than $250,000 or claims for non-monetary or unspecified damages.  The proposed rule change would also increase filing fees and hearing session fees for customers, associated persons and members bringing claims of more than $500,000 or claims for non-monetary or unspecified damage.