David Harrison — Securities Attorney & FINRA Arbitration Lawyer
Overview
David Harrison represents investors and financial professionals in FINRA arbitration and securities litigation nationwide. His practice spans investor claims against major broker-dealers, high-net-worth investor representation, financial professional employment and compensation disputes, FINRA expungement proceedings, U4 and U5 matters, and regulatory defense.
What distinguishes David Harrison from other securities attorneys is the full arc of his career. He started in the securities industry itself as a Series 7-licensed registered representative at Shearson Lehman Brothers — understanding the business from the ground up. He then prosecuted fraud as a New York City assistant district attorney, developing trial skills and knowledge of how financial crimes are investigated and charged. He then spent years on Wall Street as in-house counsel at Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, defending the firm against investor and regulatory claims — gaining direct knowledge of the strategies and defenses brokerage firms deploy. He brings all three perspectives to every case he takes.
Career history
Shearson Lehman Brothers — Series 7 registered representative
David Harrison began his career in finance as a Series 7-licensed registered representative at Shearson Lehman Brothers. This foundational experience — working on the industry side before becoming a lawyer — gives him an insider’s understanding of how broker-dealers operate, how recommendations are made, and where the pressure to generate commissions can distort the advice investors receive. It is an experience that is rare among investor protection attorneys and directly informs how he evaluates and presents claims.
Judicial clerkship — U.S. District Court, Central District of California
While attending Southwestern School of Law, David Harrison served as a judicial clerk for the Honorable Joseph Reichmann of the United States District Court for the Central District of California. This experience provided direct exposure to federal civil procedure and judicial decision-making at the trial court level.
New York City District Attorney’s Office — Assistant District Attorney
After graduating from law school, David Harrison joined the New York City District Attorney’s Office as an assistant district attorney. During his tenure, he directed on-site police investigations, led grand jury proceedings, drafted and presented search warrants, and prosecuted individuals accused of fraud and other crimes. This prosecutorial experience — trying cases before judges and juries — built the courtroom skills and evidentiary instincts that he now applies in FINRA arbitration hearings and securities litigation.
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter — In-House Counsel
Following his time as a prosecutor, David Harrison joined Morgan Stanley Dean Witter as in-house counsel, where he defended the firm against allegations of sales practice violations and stockbroker fraud by investors and regulators. This position gave him direct, inside knowledge of how major brokerage firms build their defenses — the arguments they make, the documents they withhold, the tactics they use to minimize investor recoveries. He now uses that knowledge to anticipate and defeat those defenses on behalf of investors.
Bakhtiari & Harrison — Partner
David Harrison is a founding partner at Bakhtiari & Harrison, where he represents both investors and financial professionals. For investors, he handles claims involving broker fraud, unsuitable investment recommendations, unauthorized trading, churning, overconcentration, failure to supervise, and investment product failures. For financial professionals, he handles employment disputes, promissory note defense, U4 and U5 expungement, compensation disputes, outside business activity matters, and regulatory defense.
Notable representations
Merrill Lynch expungement — U4/U5
David Harrison successfully obtained a U4/U5 expungement against Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith on behalf of a financial professional whose record contained false and misleading disclosures. The case required navigating FINRA’s expungement procedures while overcoming Merrill Lynch’s opposition — a significant result that restored the client’s professional record and career.
FINRA evidentiary hearings against major broker-dealers
David Harrison has served as lead counsel in FINRA evidentiary hearings against every major broker-dealer in the industry. His trial experience — developed first as a prosecutor and refined over decades of FINRA arbitration practice — is a defining feature of his representation. Cases involving complex financial products, derivatives, options strategies, and disputed damages calculations are a particular strength.
High-net-worth and entertainment industry clients
David Harrison has a particular focus on representing high-net-worth individuals, entertainment industry professionals, and public figures whose complex financial situations and high profiles make them disproportionately targeted for investment fraud. He handles all high-profile matters with complete discretion. FINRA arbitration is a private proceeding — not public record — which is important to clients for whom confidentiality is a priority.
FINRA arbitrator
David Harrison serves as a FINRA securities arbitrator in addition to his advocacy practice. This dual perspective — representing clients in arbitration while also serving as a neutral — gives him direct ongoing insight into how panels evaluate credibility, weigh evidence, and reach decisions.
PIABA membership
David Harrison has been a member of the Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association (PIABA), the national organization of securities attorneys who represent investors in disputes with the financial services industry.
Press and media
David Harrison has been quoted as an authority on securities law and investor protection in:
- Money Magazine
- Bloomberg Tax
- USA Today
- Financial Advisor IQ
- Los Angeles Times
Recognition and honors
- Super Lawyers — Southern California, 2015–2026. Recognized in securities litigation.
- Martindale-Hubbell Client Champion. Platinum rating — awarded to attorneys with at least ten client reviews and a score of 4.5 or higher.
- 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 School of Law, 1995.
- B.S., Finance — University of Southern California, 1991.
Bar admissions
- State of California — 2000
- State of New York – 1996
Practice areas
For investors
David Harrison represents investors in claims involving broker fraud and advisor misconduct, unsuitable investment recommendations, elder financial fraud, Ponzi and pyramid schemes, investment product failures, securities litigation, and claims on behalf of high-net-worth investors.
For financial professionals
For financial professionals, David Harrison handles FINRA expungement, promissory note and compensation disputes, employment disputes, outside business activity matters, U4 and U5 matters, and regulatory defense. Visit the Registered Persons page for a full overview of the firm’s industry professional representation.
Contact David Harrison
David Harrison represents investors and financial professionals in FINRA arbitration and securities litigation nationwide from the firm’s Los Angeles headquarters. Initial consultations are free. Investor cases are handled on a contingency fee basis — no recovery, no fee.
Investor cases are handled on a contingency fee basis — no recovery, no fee.
Call: (800) 382-7969 | Contact Us