Mr. Friend completed his undergraduate work at the University of Central Florida, where he majored in legal studies. He later interned at a private law firm and received his J.D. from Nova Southeastern University Law School, Cum Laude. Mr. Friend has earned CALI High Grade Awards in Securities Regulation, Corporate Finance, Antitrust Law, Civil Pre-Trial Practice, and Federal Jurisdiction.
Mr. Friend went on to obtain a Master’s Degree of Law in Securities and Financial Regulation from Georgetown University Law Center, graduating with distinction. Mr. Friend served as the Vice President of the Securities and Financial Law Organization, and earned a CALI High Grade Award in Fraud and Fiduciary Duties Under the Federal Securities Law. While living in Washington, D.C., he was selected to work in the Division of Enforcement at the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission headquarters, pursuant to their honor’s legal externship program. While working at the SEC, Mr. Friend assisted in the investigation of financial fraud, unregistered offerings of equity securities and municipal bonds, and other potential violations of the federal securities statutes and regulations. He also reviewed public company disclosure filings, and assisted in taking testimony from a defendant in an investigation of unregistered securities offerings.
He attended the Annual Federal Securities Institute Conference for the years 2013 and 2014, and the Securities Enforcement Forum 2013 Conference. He is a member of the ABA Business Law Section, as well as the ABA Administrative Law and Regulatory Practice Section. Mr. Friend resides in Palm Beach County. Mr. Friend is a member of the Florida Bar Association.