McLeod

I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

Appellant is a global financial services firm that specializes in institutional trading, investment banking, research, and related brokerage services. It is a registered member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA),2 and is subject to regulations promulgated by FINRA. Pursuant to these FINRA regulations, BTIG requires all employees hired to perform regulated activities, such as investment banking services, to fill out and sign a “Uniform Application for Securities Industry Registration or Transfer Form,” otherwise known as a “Form U-4.”3 In November 2014, BTIG hired respondent as an investment banker. As a condition of his employment, he completed and signed a Form U-4. The form included a provision requiring him to consent to the following language: “I agree to arbitrate any dispute, claim or controversy that may arise between me and my firm . . . that is required to be arbitrated under the rules,

2“FINRA is the self-regulatory organization for securities brokers and brokerage firms and is the successor to the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (NASD).” (Ronay Family Limited Partnership v. Tweed (2013) 216…