Ryan Bakhtiari — FINRA Attorney & Investment Fraud Lawyer

Written by

Ryan Bakhtiari, Partner — Bakhtiari & Harrison

Admitted: CA | NY | TX | DC | Multiple Federal Courts · Super Lawyers 2005–2026 · Former PIABA President · Former FINRA NAMC Chairman · Last reviewed: April 2026

Ryan Bakhtiari is a partner at Bakhtiari & Harrison and one of the most credentialed FINRA arbitration attorneys in the United States. He served as Chairman of the FINRA National Arbitration and Mediation Committee from 2013 to 2017 — the body that writes the rules governing FINRA arbitration — and as President of PIABA from 2011 to 2012. He has been recognized as a Southern California Super Lawyer every year from 2005 to 2026. He is a published author of more than 25 articles on securities arbitration and investor protection, has spoken at the Practicing Law Institute and the FINRA Annual Conference, and has been quoted by the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, Reuters, and the Los Angeles Times. He represents investors and financial professionals in FINRA arbitration and securities litigation nationwide.

Overview

Ryan Bakhtiari has represented investors and financial professionals in securities disputes before FINRA, state courts, and federal courts for nearly three decades. His practice covers the full range of securities law — from individual investor FINRA arbitration claims against major brokerage firms to complex securities litigation in federal court, from financial professional employment disputes and promissory note defense to FINRA expungement proceedings and regulatory compliance matters.

Ryan Bakhtiari began his legal career in February 1997 at Aidikoff, Uhl & Bakhtiari in Beverly Hills, where he practiced securities law for 28 years before founding Bakhtiari & Harrison. He is admitted to practice in California, New York, Texas, the District of Columbia, and multiple federal courts. He presently serves as a FINRA securities arbitrator — bringing direct ongoing insight into how arbitration panels evaluate evidence and reach decisions.

FINRA leadership and rulemaking

Ryan Bakhtiari’s involvement in FINRA’s governance spans more than fifteen years and represents a level of institutional engagement that is unique among investor protection attorneys.

Chairman, FINRA National Arbitration and Mediation Committee (2013–2017)

In June 2013, Ryan Bakhtiari was named Chairman of the National Arbitration and Mediation Committee of FINRA — the advisory body that makes recommendations on rules, regulations, and procedures governing FINRA arbitration, mediation, and dispute resolution. He served as Chairman until June 2017. During his tenure he created the FINRA short-list procedure for replacing vacant arbitrator seats and chaired the committee implementing the FINRA Dispute Resolution Task Force rules, policies, and procedural recommendations.

Member, FINRA National Arbitration and Mediation Committee (2009–2013)

In 2009, Ryan Bakhtiari was nominated to serve as a public member of the FINRA National Arbitration and Mediation Committee. In this capacity he participated in FINRA’s rulemaking and policy-shaping processes for FINRA arbitration and mediation and advised on procedural changes affecting both investors and industry participants.

Member, Nasdaq OMX BX Arbitration Committee (2011)

In June 2011, Ryan Bakhtiari was nominated to serve as a public member of the Nasdaq OMX BX Arbitration Committee — the advisory group that provides recommendations on rules, regulations, and procedures governing arbitrations, mediations, and dispute resolution for the Nasdaq and Boston Stock Exchanges.

Member, FINRA Discovery Task Force Committee (2019)

In June 2019, Ryan Bakhtiari was nominated to serve as a public member of the Discovery Task Force Committee of FINRA — the advisory group established in conjunction with a directive from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that reviews substantive issues relating to discovery in FINRA arbitration proceedings.

FINRA arbitrator

Ryan Bakhtiari presently serves as a FINRA securities arbitrator. This dual perspective — advocate and arbitrator — gives him direct, ongoing insight into how panels evaluate evidence, assess credibility, and reach decisions that no amount of advocacy experience alone can replicate.

Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association (PIABA)

Ryan Bakhtiari served on the Board of Directors of PIABA from 2008 to 2013, holding the following positions:

President — 2011 to 2012
Executive Vice President — 2010 to 2011
Member, Board of Directors — 2008 to 2013

PIABA is the national organization of securities attorneys who represent investors in disputes with the financial services industry. As President, Ryan Bakhtiari led the association’s advocacy on arbitration reform, transparency, and fairness — collaborating with regulators, legislators, and industry stakeholders to strengthen investor protection. He is also a past member of the board of editors and managing editor of the PIABA Bar Journal, where he edited the “Recent Arbitration Awards” column covering significant NASD and NYSE arbitration awards.

Published court decisions

Ryan Bakhtiari has litigated cases resulting in the following published federal opinions:

Hosier et al. v. Citigroup Global Markets, Inc. — U.S. District Court, District of Colorado (2011)

Confirmation of $54.1 million FINRA arbitration award, including punitive damages and attorneys’ fees. Ryan Bakhtiari served as co-lead counsel. According to the Wall Street Journal, this was the largest FINRA arbitration award ever levied against a major Wall Street brokerage in favor of individual investors.

Maria Brezden et al. v. Associated Securities Corp. — U.S. District Court, Central District of California (2009)

Petition to vacate $8.9 million arbitration award successfully denied.

Coutee v. Barington Capital Group, LP — U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit (2003)

Confirmation of arbitration award of punitive damages and attorneys’ fees.

Goodman v. CIBC Oppenheimer & Co. — U.S. District Court, Central District of California (2001)

Federal Arbitration Act does not provide an independent basis for federal subject matter jurisdiction.

Speaking engagements

Ryan Bakhtiari has served on the faculty of and spoken at the following programs:

Practicing Law Institute (PLI) Securities Arbitration — 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020
FINRA Annual Conference — 2012, 2014 (topic: securities arbitration)
New York City Bar Association — Securities Arbitration and Mediation Hot Topics (2012)
Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association — annual meeting and California mid-year meeting (multiple years)

Press and media

Ryan Bakhtiari has been quoted as a recognized authority on investor protection and securities arbitration in:

New York Times
Wall Street Journal
Bloomberg
Los Angeles Times
Reuters
Dow Jones Business News
New York Post
Los Angeles Business Journal
The American Banker
Cleveland Plain Dealer

Recognition and honors

Super Lawyers — Southern California, 2005–2026. Recognized as a Rising Star from 2005 to 2013 and as a Super Lawyer from 2014 to 2026.
Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent. The highest peer review rating in legal ability and ethical standards.
Justia Lawyer Rating. Recognized on the Justia platform for securities law expertise.

Education

J.D. — Southwestern University School of Law, 1998. Journal of Law and Trade in the Americas, Lead Articles Editor.
B.A. — University of California, Los Angeles, 1995. History.
Extern — Teaching assistant and extern to the Honorable James N. Barr, United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Central District of California.

Bar admissions

State of California — 1998
U.S. District Court, Central District of California — 1998
District of Columbia — 1999
U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit — 1999
U.S. District Court, Northern District of California — 2000
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit — 2000
State of Texas — 2004
State of New York — 2005
U.S. District Court, District of Colorado — 2011
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California — 2013
U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York — 2015

Selected publications

Ryan Bakhtiari has authored and co-authored more than 25 articles on securities arbitration, investor protection, and FINRA procedure. Selected publications include:

Trends in Preventing Senior Financial Abuse

PLI Current: White Collar Practice Journal, Vol.2, No.1 (September 2019)
Post-Settlement Expungements: An Investor Protection Problem That Continues To Wait For a FINRA Solution: Practicing Law Institute Securities Arbitration Handbook (2017)
The 20-Day Exchange: Identification of Expert Witnesses: The Neutral Corner (Volume 2 – 2016)
The Use of Third Party Subpoenas to Determine a Brokerage Firm’s Pre-Hiring Due Diligence and Post-Hiring Supervision: Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association (2015)
Confidentiality in the FINRA Forum: Practicing Law Institute Securities Arbitration Handbook (2015)
Market Adjusted Damages in the FINRA Forum: PIABA Bar Journal, Volume 21, No. 2 (2014), reprinted in the Consumer Attorneys Associations for Southern California Advocate (April 2016)
The Time for a Uniform Fiduciary Duty Is Now: St. John’s Law Review, Vol. 87: Iss. 2 & 3, 313 (2013)
FINRA Six-Year Eligibility Rule 12206: The Purchase Date is Often Not the Triggering “Occurrence or Event Giving Rise to a Claim.”: Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association (2013)
Discoverability of Wells Submissions: What They Are And How To Get Them: Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association (2012)
Discovery of Regulatory Documents: Debunking the Myth of the “SEC” Privilege in Securities Arbitration: Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association (2011)
Arbitrators Misclassified: Looking Back to Move Forward: Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association (2011)
The Prospectus Defense: Defeating It As A Matter of Fact and Law: Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association (2009)
The Credit Crisis Glossary: Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association (2008)
From Wall Street to Main Street: A Guide To Litigation Over Hedge Funds Sold by Brokerage Firms to Retail Investors: Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association (2005)
Supervising Retail Customer Accounts: Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association (2005)
Practice Pointers For Trying the Variable Annuity Case: Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association (2004)
Governing Law Clauses in Customer Agreements: Public Investors Bar Association (2003)
Arbitration: Can It Be Waived?: Practicing Law Institute Securities Arbitration Handbook (2002)
2001: An Update On Best Execution and Suitability Standards For Online Trading: Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association (2001)
Selective Recission and the Offset Defense in Securities Cases: A Survey of the Law: Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association (2000)
Motion Practice in Securities Arbitration: A Claimant’s Point of View: Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association (1999)
Why Shouldn’t Clearing Firms be Liable: Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association (1998)
Clearing Firm Liability: A Forward Looking Analysis: Practicing Law Institute Securities Arbitration Handbook (1998)
Liability of Control Persons at Second Tier Firms: Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association (1997)
Control Person Liability in the Securities Industry: A Legal Overview and Practical Applications: Practicing Law Institute Securities Arbitration Handbook (1997)

Contact Ryan Bakhtiari

Ryan Bakhtiari represents investors and financial professionals in FINRA arbitration and securities litigation nationwide from the firm’s Los Angeles headquarters. For specific practice area information, visit the FINRA expungement, securities arbitration, and investment fraud pages.

Investor cases are handled on a contingency fee basis — no recovery, no fee.

Contact Ryan Bakhtiari

Call: (800) 382-7969 | Contact Us