EXHIBIT 31.1

CERTIFICATION

I, Edward Rubin, certify that:

|1. | I have reviewed this annual report
    on Form 10-K of Rodman & Renshaw Capital Group, Inc.;                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
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|2. | Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which
such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;                                               
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|3. | Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows
of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;                                                                
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|4. | The registrants other certifying
    officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure
    controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e))
    and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act
    Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
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|   | a)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
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|   | b)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
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|   | c)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
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|   | d)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
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|5. | The registrants other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrants auditors and the audit
committee of the registrants board of directors (or persons performing
the equivalent functions):                                                     
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|   | a)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
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|   | b)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
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|                     |  |                              
|-------------------- |  | -----------------------------
|Date: March 11, 2009 |  |                              
|                     |  | /s/ EDWARD RUBIN             
|                     |  | Edward Rubin                 
|                     |  | Chief Executive Officer      
|                     |  | (Principal Executive Officer)

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