What is Locus Standi?

Locus Standi is a platform for the dispute-resolution world. It brings together arbitration, mediation and adjudication events, jobs and internships, and landmark arbitral awards explained in plain English, alongside the qualifications and pathways into the field. It was established in London at LIDW26 by the alumni of Queen Mary University of London.

Can Locus Standi help me understand a dispute?

Yes. Locus Standi offers free dispute help: paste your contract's dispute-resolution clause and a short note on what happened, and it works out the type of dispute, the governing law, your options, the right forum to file in, and drafts a basic document to start from, all in plain English.

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Locus Standi's workspace includes an AI case officer that helps practitioners run their matters: tracking stages and deadlines, raising alerts, organising to-dos and documents, and drafting. It is built for arbitrators, mediators and the institutions that administer disputes.

Where can I find arbitration events and internships?

Locus Standi keeps a live calendar of arbitration, mediation and adjudication events with one-tap calendar export, and a board of arbitration jobs and internships from institutions including the PCA, ICC, LCIA, SCC, SIAC and AIAC.

25-00684 Shane Saplitsky v. Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith Inc. (FINRA Dispute Resolution Services)

Why it matters

Shane Saplitsky v. Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith Inc., decided in FINRA arbitration. In this case a customer or associated person brought a claim against Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith Inc.. For a student, it shows how FINRA arbitration works: the binding, largely private forum where the great majority of US securities disputes are resolved instead of the courts, with awards enforceable in court and open to challenge only on narrow grounds.

Summary

Shane Saplitsky v. Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith Inc.: a FINRA arbitration award (case 25-00684), 06/08/2026. The panel's decision is set out in the award.

The detail

Parties: Shane Saplitsky v. Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith Inc.

Case number: FINRA Case No. 25-00684

Outcome: Claim refused in full.

Applicable law: FINRA Code of Arbitration Procedure; United States securities law; the parties' brokerage agreement.

Issues in play: An investor's or an industry member's claim, decided in FINRA's arbitration forum rather than the courts.

Read the full decision at FINRA Arbitration Awards Online ↗

Locus Standi links to the source decision and publishes its own plain-language summary. It does not reproduce the text of the award.

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