Featured Post from J.S. Held LLC

J.S. Held Releases 2025 Global Risk Report Addressing Critical Risks Amid Uncertainty

The 2025 J.S. Held Global Risk Report presents actionable insights that support strategic business decision-making.

Jan 21, 2025

3 min

Greg EsslingerJohn Peiserich, Esq.


CaptionResizeWrap TextRemove


On the first day of the new presidential administration in the United States, global consulting firm J.S. Held unveils its annual report focused on critical areas impacting industries and economies worldwide. Explore the 2025 J.S. Held Global Risk Report here:


2025 J.S. Held Global Risk Report


In an increasingly uncertain and volatile global landscape, businesses, governments,

and investors face a growing array of challenges that demand immediate attention and

innovative solutions. The 2025 J.S. Held Global Risk Report explores five interconnected topics that organizations must consider in managing risk and opportunity in the year ahead. These include:


1. Sustainability Investments & Headwinds: With various ESG regulations

across jurisdictions and increasing scrutiny over corporate environmental and

social practices, experts explore how organizations can align with evolving

frameworks while driving innovation.

2. Global Supply Chain Challenges: From geopolitical conflicts to climate

disruptions, the report analyzes how companies can build more resilient and

sustainable supply chains.

3. Crypto & Digital Asset Intensification: As the crypto landscape transitions

through regulatory shifts and technological advancements, the report highlights

both the risks and opportunities for businesses and investors.

4. Artificial Intelligence, Data & Digital Regulatory Response: With Artificial

Intelligence (AI) systems reshaping industries, experts examine the regulatory,

ethical, and operational challenges, as well as the competitive advantages for

organizations that harness this transformative technology responsibly.

5. Cybersecurity Complexities: From AI-powered cyberattacks to evolving data

protection laws, the report provides insights into how organizations can

safeguard operations and maintain customer trust in a rapidly shifting digital

environment.


The 2025 J.S. Held Global Risk Report includes an analysis of these categories of risk

and actionable opportunities for companies to gain a competitive edge while addressing

critical vulnerabilities.


“The 25 technical, scientific, financial, and strategic advisory experts who contributed to the J.S. Held Global Risk Report have collaboratively parsed not only each risk independently but also at their unique points of intersection to create a framework to support business decision-making,” noted Greg Esslinger, Executive Vice President and Global Investigations Practice Leader.



“Our experts’ deep understanding of the external factors related to the topics that keep CEOs, CFOs, COOs, CLOs, and Boards of Directors up at night drives the curated insights shared in the report and helps clients navigate risks and capitalize on emerging opportunities in the year ahead,” adds John Peiserich, Esq., Executive Vice President and Environmental, Health, & Safety Practice Leader.


The depth and breadth of J.S. Held’s work in the insurance market provides a strong

foundation in risk assessment, data analysis, global awareness, regulatory compliance,

technological adaptability, and risk mitigation. Collectively, these skills better equip the

firm’s experts to assess business risk across diverse geographies, geopolitical

landscapes, compliance frameworks, and digital advancements.


"In a world where uncertainty is the only constant, there is a need for something solid you can hold onto," observes J.S. Held Chief Executive Officer Jonathon Held. "Our name is our promise," he adds. "Our role as strategic advisor is emblematic of this promise, even in the face of the most daunting risks, clients have the expertise and guidance to act with confidence"


"Agile, collaborative, and creative client-centric teams provide solution-forward advisory to our clients across the globe, no matter the scope or complexity of a project; the J.S. Held Global Risk Report is reflective of the trusted advisor role we have earned over the last 50 years," noted J.S. Held President and Chief Operating Officer Lee Spirer.


J.S. Held's expertise in strategic advisory is built upon five decades of experience in the

most rigorous venues – state, federal, and international courts – and spans more than

150 different industry segments.


If you have any questions or would like to further discuss the risks and opportunities

outlined in the report, please email GlobalRiskReport@jsheld.com.


To connect with Greg Esslinger or John Peiserich simply click on either expert's icon now.


For any other media inquiries - simply contact :

Kristi L. Stathis, J.S. Held

+1 786 833 4864

Kristi.Stathis@JSHeld.com

Connect with:
Greg Esslinger

Greg Esslinger

Executive Vice President | Global Investigations Practice Lead

Cross-Border Investigations Expert | Former FBI Special Agent | Regulatory & Compliance Expert | Leading Business Intelligence Advisor

Business IntelligenceInternal InvestigationsAnti-Bribery & Anti-CorruptionRegulatory Risk ManagementCompliance & Governance
John Peiserich, Esq.

John Peiserich, Esq.

Executive Vice President | Environmental, Health & Safety Practice Lead

Environmental Risk & Compliance Expert | Independent Monitor - EPA Suspension & Debarment Program | Public Policy Advisor

Environmental Risk & ComplianceOil & GasProducts Liability & Mass TortsToxic TortsNatural Resources

You might also like...

Check out some other posts from J.S. Held LLC

1 min

Video Insights: Regulatory Impacts of Trump’s First 100 Days

Since taking office in January, President Trump’s administration has taken numerous actions that will impact the realm of environmental and sustainability regulations. Such rapid changes and inconsistencies are creating complications for companies accustomed to relying on clearly established legislative and regulatory road maps, but also potential opportunities that may materialize as a result. In this video, John Peiserich and Andrea Korney discuss how a surge of new legislation, resulting litigation, and factors such as changing tariffs and supply chains present both emerging risks and opportunities for stakeholders as they plan ahead past the new administration’s first 100 days. Looking to know more or connect with John Peiserich and Andrea Korney? Simply click on either expert's icon now to arrange an interview today.

3 min

Off-Channel Communications: How Financial Services Organizations Can Address Regulators’ Latest Target

Off-channel communications (OCC) occur when employees use unapproved and inadequately protected devices – such as personal cellphones – or applications to communicate with co-workers, counterparties and / or clients. Many financial services firms are required to maintain copies of all communications regarding their business, supervise the same, and produce them in response to regulatory requests. Firms cannot meet those compliance obligations when employees resort to unauthorized OCC for business-related matters. In charging 15 broker-dealers and one affiliated investment advisor in September 2022 with record-keeping violations, the SEC noted that its investigation uncovered employees at all levels of these firms who routinely used text messaging apps on their personal devices to discuss business matters between January 2018 and September 2021 [1]. The firms settled the charges and agreed to pay penalties totaling more than $1.1 billion. Just as important, the firms also agreed to engage independent compliance consultants to ensure the use of OCC meets regulatory standards as part of the settlements. In a related move [2],  the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) ordered 11 financial institutions to pay more than $710 million for recordkeeping and supervision failures for widespread use of unapproved communication methods such as personal texts, WhatsApp, and Signal. Additionally, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has also taken action when it comes to OCC. Antonio Rega, digital forensics, data governance, privacy, security, emerging technology, and discovery expert with J.S. Held, observes, “While the current administration has loosened certain regulatory enforcement near-term, we continue to observe requests from clients in supporting management of “off-channel” communications, with a particular focus on 3rd party chat messaging platforms on mobile devices, such as Whatsapp. These inquiries include supporting corporate stakeholders with internal auditing of their organizational platforms, policies and procedures.” By implementing effective processes and utilizing software and outside experts to monitor and detect OCC, broker-dealers, investment advisers, and other financial institutions can reduce the risk of regulatory enforcement and penalties and ensure that they remain in compliance with regulations. Steve Strombelline, regulatory and enterprise risk management expert with J.S. Held adds, “Although concerns typically impact broker-dealers, firms outside of financial sectors are looking closely at their messaging processes as well, which is advisable." In addition to guaranteeing that these communications are properly documented and retained, the regulations are set up to prevent the use of OCC to manipulate securities transactions or commit fraud and to ensure that it is not used to violate any other securities laws. Firms’ supervisory procedures must be reasonably designed to detect for OCC when they monitor for such activity. The following article discusses the risks that OCC pose for financial services firms, especially as the SEC, FINRA, and the CFTC have made it clear that they are now targeting firms throughout the industry about their OCC to see if they are recording and preserving business information according to regulations. The piece also explains how firms, including broker-dealers of all sizes, should manage their OCC to ensure that they and their employees comply with federal securities laws and regulations. Finally, the authors address the complexity related to the collection of OCC in response to regulatory enforcement investigative requests. As the fines and settlements between those firms and the SEC exemplify, financial services firms of all sizes need to take this regulatory focus seriously and take the proactive step of engaging an independent third-party with expertise and experience in both digital forensics and compliance issues. To read the full article and learn more about the risk of off-channel communications and how companies should manage their OCC to remain compliant, click on the button below: To connect with Antonio Rega simply click on his icon now. To arrange a conversation with Steve Strombelline or any other media inquiries - contact : Kristi L. Stathis, J.S. Held +1 786 833 4864 Kristi.Stathis@JSHeld.com References [1] https://www.sec.gov/news/press-release/2022-174 [2] https://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/PressReleases/8599-22

1 min

Insights: Cyber Risks & Opportunities in 2025

Managing cyber risk is no longer simply a technical necessity but also a strategic imperative in global business. With companies becoming more interconnected and reliant on artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and the rest of the digital ecosystem, they are exposed to greater opportunity and risk. In the video below, Senior Managing Director & cybersecurity expert Denis Calderone shares topics covered in the 2025 J.S. Held Global Risk Report focused on managing cyber risk in the year ahead. To view the report and learn more about cyber risks and opportunities, click on the button below: Looking to know more or connect with Denis Calderone Simply click on his icon to arrange an interview today.

View all posts
Powered by