Aakash
H.
Chandarana
Associate; Business Litigation Section, Financial Markets Group
Aakash is an associate in the firm of Briggs and Morgan, Professional Association. He is a member of the Business Litigation Section and the Financial Markets Group. Aakash practices principally in the areas of:
- Securities regulatory compliance counseling
- Securities regulatory investigations
- Securities litigation
- Sarbanes Oxley compliance
- Telecommunications
- Business litigation
Since joining Briggs in 2005, Aakash has been involved in a variety of business litigation, primarily serving clients in the financial industry. He brings a solid financial services background to his clients having been a project manager for U.S. Bancorp and Piper Jaffray before attending law school. His experience managing the acquisition and integration of technology applications and operational systems of small to mid-size retail banks, broker-dealers, and leasing entities is advantageous in his legal practice. He has extensive experience in leading and managing teams of various sizes and resolving internal and external integration-related issues, including vendor and software licensing issues.
In his legal practice, Aakash assists in counseling clients regarding the compliance of regulations set forth by the
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), which was recently formed by the consolidation of the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD) and select operations of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). He has been instrumental in the auditing of company operations, information technology, and accounting systems in compliance with investigations
conducted by the former NASD. Aakash has also served securities clients in the areas of white collar crime, OSHA, Sarbanes Oxley (specifically whistle-blower regulations) and employment issues.
Other areas which Aakash incorporates into his business litigation practice involve general business litigation and telecommunications litigation. In his telecommunications practice, Aakash has knowledge in dealing with federal and state compliance issues, including those related to the Universal Service Fund (USF) and Eligible Telecommunication Carrier (ETC) guidelines. In addition to serving clients, Aakash provides pro bono legal services and has experience in criminal defense at the appellate level.
Aakash was an extern for the Honorable Audrey G. Fleissig, Magistrate Judge for the U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of Missouri, and a research assistant for Professor Stephen Gunn at
Washington University in
St. Louis School of Law.
Born in
Sommerville, New Jersey, and raised in
Pinellas Park, Florida, Aakash received his B.A. in biology and business management from
Washington University in
St. Louis. He received his law degree from
Washington University in St. Louis School of Law. Aakash joined Briggs in 2005.