Bakhtiari & Harrison — Securities Attorneys & FINRA Lawyers
Ryan Bakhtiari — Partner
Ryan Bakhtiari is a partner at Bakhtiari & Harrison and one of the most credentialed FINRA arbitration attorneys in the country. 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 has spoken at the Practicing Law Institute and the FINRA Annual Conference, has been quoted by the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, Reuters, and the Los Angeles Times, and presently serves as a FINRA securities arbitrator.
Ryan Bakhtiari is admitted to practice in California, New York, Texas, the District of Columbia, and multiple federal courts. He litigated the Hosier v. Citigroup Global Markets matter that resulted in a $54.1 million FINRA arbitration award — reported by the Wall Street Journal as the largest FINRA arbitration award ever levied against a major Wall Street brokerage in favor of individual investors.
Read the full Ryan Bakhtiari profile »
David Harrison — Partner
David Harrison is a partner at Bakhtiari & Harrison whose career spans three distinct phases of the securities industry. He began as a Series 7-licensed registered representative at Shearson Lehman Brothers, then served as a New York City assistant district attorney prosecuting fraud, then spent years as in-house counsel at Morgan Stanley Dean Witter defending the firm against investor and regulatory claims — before switching sides to represent investors. He has been named a Super Lawyer in securities law every year from 2015 to 2026.
David Harrison is admitted to practice in California and New York. He serves as a FINRA securities arbitrator and is a member of PIABA. He has particular depth in high-net-worth investor representation, financial professional employment and compensation matters, and FINRA expungement proceedings — including contested expungements against major broker-dealers.
Read the full David Harrison profile »
Why the credentials of your attorney matter in FINRA arbitration
FINRA arbitration is not a court proceeding — there is no judge, and the rules of evidence are applied loosely. The outcome depends heavily on the experience, preparation, and persuasiveness of the attorneys involved. Arbitrators evaluate the credibility of counsel as well as the strength of the case. The depth of the firm’s institutional knowledge of FINRA — its rules, its procedures, its arbitrator pool, and its rulemaking history — is a direct competitive advantage in every case. Learn More About Our Firm and The Importance of Selection of Counsel.
Ryan Bakhtiari’s service as FINRA NAMC Chairman and David Harrison’s years as Morgan Stanley in-house counsel give Bakhtiari & Harrison a perspective that is genuinely rare: the firm understands both how the arbitration rules were written and how brokerage firms build their defenses. That institutional knowledge is brought to every case.
Firm credentials at a glance
- $250 million+ recovered for investors in FINRA arbitration and securities litigation over four decades.
- Ryan Bakhtiari — Super Lawyers 2005–2026. Southern California. Chairman, FINRA NAMC 2013–2017. President, PIABA 2011–2012.
- David Harrison — Super Lawyers 2015–2026. Southern California. Former NYC ADA. Former Morgan Stanley in-house counsel. Series 7 licensed.
- Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent. The highest peer review rating for professional excellence and ethics.
- Martindale-Hubbell Client Champion Platinum 2026. Based on quantity and quality of client reviews — ten or more reviews with a score of 4.5 or higher.
- Admitted: California, New York, Texas, District of Columbia, and multiple federal courts.
Representation for investors and financial professionals
Bakhtiari & Harrison represents two distinct client groups — investors who have suffered losses and are seeking recovery, and financial professionals who need representation in employment, regulatory, or compensation matters.
For investors
The firm represents investors in FINRA arbitration and securities litigation involving broker fraud, unsuitable investment recommendations, unauthorized trading, churning, elder financial fraud, Ponzi and pyramid schemes, non-traded REITs, structured notes, and product failures, and claims on behalf of high-net-worth investors. All investor cases are handled on a contingency fee basis — no recovery, no fee.
For financial professionals
The firm represents financial professionals in FINRA expungement, compensation disputes and promissory note defense, employment disputes, outside business activity matters, U4 and U5 matters, and regulatory defense. Visit the Registered Persons page for a full overview of industry professional representation.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if I have a FINRA arbitration claim?
If you invested through a FINRA-registered broker or brokerage firm and suffered losses that you believe resulted from unsuitable recommendations, misrepresentation, unauthorized trading, or other misconduct, you may have a claim. Bakhtiari & Harrison evaluates all potential claims in a free initial consultation. There is no charge to discuss your situation and no obligation to retain the firm after the consultation.
What does contingency fee representation mean?
Bakhtiari & Harrison represents investors on a contingency fee basis — the firm is only paid if it recovers money for you. If the firm does not recover, you owe nothing. There are no upfront legal fees and no charge for the initial consultation.
How long does FINRA arbitration take?
FINRA arbitration typically takes 12 to 18 months from filing to award for standard cases. Cases involving larger damages, multiple parties, or more complex legal and factual issues may take longer. Bakhtiari & Harrison manages the full process — from initial claim evaluation through the evidentiary hearing and award — on behalf of its clients.
Does the firm represent clients outside California?
Yes. Bakhtiari & Harrison represents clients nationwide. Ryan Bakhtiari is admitted in California, New York, Texas, the District of Columbia, and multiple federal courts. FINRA arbitration hearings are held near the claimant’s residence — so distance from the firm’s Studio City headquarters is never a barrier to representation.
Contact Bakhtiari & Harrison
Call (800) 382-7969 or use the contact form to schedule a free, confidential consultation. Bakhtiari & Harrison is headquartered at 12711 Ventura Blvd., Suite 315, Studio City, CA 91604.
Investor cases are handled on a contingency fee basis — no recovery, no fee.
Call: (800) 382-7969 | Contact Us
Our legal representation services are often described in a multitude of ways, including all of the phrases below. If you have been the victim of any type of investment fraud, contact the securities fraud attorneys of Bakhtiari & Harrison to discuss it with a free initial consultation. We will work tirelessly in pursuit of financial compensation for your investment losses.
