Stockbroker Fraud Attorneys

Understanding Stockbroker Fraud

In addition to state and federal laws, brokers and brokerage firms must adhere to the rules put forth by FINRA, the SEC, the NYSE, and other regulatory entities when dealing with the public. When brokers fail to abide by these rules, or breach one of the many duties owed to their investors, they may be liable for the losses that result from their dereliction of duty.

Why Arbitration? Why FINRA?

When an investor opens an account with a broker or brokerage firm, he or she signs a contract that usually contains an arbitration provision, agreeing that any disputes that arise out of the relationship will be handled through an alternative dispute resolution forum instead of in civil court. In this context, the forum provided is administered by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, commonly referred to as FINRA.

FINRA arbitrations proceed similarly to a civil court proceeding in many respects. However, there are many important differences to note as well. For more information on the FINRA forum and its procedures, visit our FINRA Arbitration FAQs page or visit FINRA's website at www.finra.org.

Retaining a FINRA Arbitration Attorney

Why An Attorney?

For individual investors who have suffered investment losses, a securities attorney is likely the best way to protect your interests. Many times, injured investors spend time filing complaints with their brokerage firm or with state and local regulatory agencies, without result. These agencies recieve hundreds or thousands of complaints every year and only a small fraction lead to official investigations. Even where an official investigation does occur, the agencies are charged with enforcement - their focus is not the recovery of funds for individual investors.

Another risk in doing this is that the statute of limitations on your claim may have already started to run - do not assume you have years to file your claim!

Instead, the best course of action is to contact an attorney as soon as possible after a loss. At Lasky & Rifkind, we have extensive experience representing investors who have been damaged by unethical broker activity. One of our attorneys will carefully examine your case, assess your losses, and help you decide the best course of action.

If an arbitration is necessary, we will represent you in each step of the process. To learn more, or to discuss the specifics of your case with one of our attorneys, visit our Contact Us page, fill out an Online Form (on the left-hand side of this page), or simply call us and speak to one of our attorneys:

Chicago office: (312) 634-0057; New York office: (212) 984-1853.

Our firm has achieved successful results on behalf of clients in Chicago, New York and all throughout the United States.

What Should I Bring to the Initial Consultation?

You should bring as much background information as is possible and convenient. Account statements, broker correspondence, and the Account Agreement are examples of helpful documents. However, if these documents are not readily available, it is still advisable to schedule a meeting with one of our attorneys. Remember, statutes of limitations put time limits on your ability to bring a claim. It is important to contact an attorney as soon as possible after a loss.

Of course, all consultations are free and confidential.

Contact us about your case. Feel free to use the contact form on the left-hand side of this page (it sends an email direct to our inboxes).

What is the FINRA Arbitration Process like?

We have compiled the most frequently asked questions regarding FINRA on our FINRA FAQs page.