New York—The research industry is at an inflection point where the rate of change is accelerating. Every research professional we speak with, whether on the buy side, sell side or in between, is  feeling disoriented by the shifts along all dimensions—distribution, pricing, payment mechanisms, research methodologies, technology.  We are pleased to offer a remedy (for the disorientation, that is) in the upcoming 2^nd annual research conference, "Navigating the Research Marketplace", on June 15^th at the Hyatt at Grand Central in New York, which we are co-hosting with AQ Research of London.

The conference includes a variety of beacons to help us get re-oriented during the changing times in which we live.  The regulatory panel will feature one of the architects of the FSA's commission disclosure regime, Richard Sutcliffe, who heads the FSA's Institutional section.  The panel also includes Randee Pavalow who heads the Capital Markets branch of the Ontario Securities Commission who will discuss our northern neighbors' pending commission disclosure regulation.  

The regulatory panel is moderated by Larry Bergmann, who until last year was Senior Associate Director in the Market Regulation Division of the SEC and is now with Willkie Farr.   In addition to his insights on the SEC, Larry is one of the leading 28(e) authorities.   He recently wrote a definitive article on soft dollars for The Review of Securities and Commodities Regulation which he has received permission from the publisher to distribute to conference attendees.

Another panel will feature a gaggle (pride?) of commissions management gurus, including Tom Conigliaro of Goldman, Jon Giblin of Lehman, and Michael Bird of Merrill discussing the latest with CSAs and their third party research strategies.   This is your opportunity to learn first-hand what Hudson Street Services is all about, and what the responses of some of Goldman's competitors are.

Robin Hodgkins of Cogent Consulting will be moderating the buy-side perspective on un-bundling, during a panel on research procurement.  This was one of the most interesting panels at AQ's conference in London two months ago, and promises to be equally illuminating in its trans-Atlantic version.

Distribution continues to be a hot topic for many on the sell side of the research fence, and we have a panel discussing the latest trends, including Lara Warner, co-head of US Equities for Credit Suisse,  Steve Buell of Thomas Weisel, Peter Sidoti of his eponymous firm, and David Hill of Factset.   It is guaranteed to be a lively discussion.

The conference concludes with two panels—one on pricing and payment mechanisms, including the inimitable John Meserve of BNY Convergex and a panel on new, differentiated research including three hot new areas: expert networks, channel checkers and search-based research.   Kevin Coleman of bespoke expert network Coleman Research, Craig Gordon, founder of the leading channel checker Off the Record, and Penny Herscher, CEO of firstRain, an innovative search-based research firm will be speaking about what is driving the demand for new types of research.

The conference is sponsored by Reuters, Factset, Capital IQ, BlueMatrix, and Cogent Consulting.

The conference will be sold out in the next couple of weeks.  There are less than fifty seats left.  To register, you can call (203) 987-5258 for phone registration or fill out the last page of the conference brochure which can be obtained from http://www.aqresearch.com/downloads/conference_brochure_June2007.pdf  and fax to the attention of Nathan Lyons of AQ Research at +011 44 207 415 7058. 

The conference will be a good antidote to the vertigo that research professionals are experiencing—and a good time as well.  I look forward to seeing you there.