Chicago Investment Fraud Lawyers & FINRA Attorneys
Investment fraud lawyers serving Chicago and Illinois
Chicago is a major financial center — home to the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, the Chicago Board Options Exchange, major national broker-dealer operations, and a large and sophisticated investor community. The same patterns of broker misconduct seen in New York and Los Angeles — unsuitable product recommendations, private placement fraud, churning, and failure to supervise — are equally prevalent in Chicago’s large brokerage market.
FINRA arbitration hearings for Chicago investors are held at the Chicago FINRA hearing location at 55 West Monroe Street. Bakhtiari & Harrison represents Chicago investors throughout the FINRA arbitration process and in federal court where arbitration is not available.
Investment fraud and misconduct claims we handle
- Unsuitable investment recommendations: brokers who recommend investments inconsistent with an investor’s risk tolerance, financial situation, or investment objectives violate FINRA Rule 2111 and Regulation Best Interest.
- Broker fraud and misrepresentation: material misstatements and omissions of fact in connection with an investment recommendation are actionable under federal securities law and FINRA rules.
- Unauthorized trading: executing transactions in a client’s account without prior authorization violates the client’s account agreement and FINRA rules.
- Churning and excessive trading: excessive trading to generate commissions at the investor’s expense is actionable as a suitability violation and a breach of the duty of care.
- Overconcentration: failing to maintain adequate diversification — placing an excessive proportion of assets in a single security, sector, or product — is a suitability violation.
- Product failure: unsuitable recommendations of complex or illiquid investment products including non-traded REITs, structured notes, variable annuities, leveraged ETFs, and private placements.
- Elder financial fraud: financial professionals who exploit elderly or vulnerable investors face enhanced liability under federal and state elder financial abuse statutes.
- Failure to supervise: brokerage firms bear independent liability under FINRA Rule 3110 for failing to adequately supervise their registered representatives.
Why choose Bakhtiari & Harrison as your Chicago investment fraud lawyers
- $250 million+ recovered. Four decades of results for investors in FINRA arbitration and securities litigation nationwide.
- Former FINRA NAMC Chairman. Ryan Bakhtiari served as Chairman of the FINRA National Arbitration and Mediation Committee from 2013 to 2017 — the body that writes the rules governing every FINRA arbitration proceeding.
- Former Morgan Stanley in-house counsel. David Harrison spent years as in-house counsel at Morgan Stanley Dean Witter and began his career as a Series 7-licensed registered representative at Shearson Lehman Brothers — giving the firm direct institutional knowledge of how brokerage firms defend against investor claims.
- FINRA hearings near you. FINRA arbitration hearings are held at the regional hearing location nearest the claimant.
- Contingency fee representation. No recovery, no fee. Initial consultations are free.
For a full overview of the firm’s nationwide representation practice, visit the California Investment Fraud Lawyers page.
Frequently asked questions — Chicago investment fraud lawyers
Do I need a local Chicago lawyer for a FINRA arbitration claim?
Not necessarily. FINRA arbitration hearings are held at the regional hearing location nearest the claimant’s residence — not at the attorney’s office. Bakhtiari & Harrison represents investors throughout the United States and appears at FINRA hearing locations nationwide. What matters most is the attorney’s specific FINRA arbitration experience and knowledge of the claims at issue, not their physical proximity to the client.
What is the deadline to file a FINRA arbitration claim in Illinois?
Under FINRA Rule 12206, claims must be filed within six years of the events giving rise to the dispute. Illinois investors may also have state law claims with their own limitations periods. Contact Bakhtiari & Harrison promptly — time limits are strictly enforced and missing the deadline permanently closes the claim.
Where are FINRA arbitration hearings held for Chicago investors?
FINRA arbitration hearings for Chicago investors are held at the Chicago FINRA hearing location at 55 West Monroe Street, Chicago, IL 60603. Bakhtiari & Harrison appears at the Chicago FINRA hearing location and represents Chicago investors throughout the arbitration process.
What investment fraud is most common in Chicago?
Chicago investors face the full range of broker misconduct claims — unsuitable recommendations, private placement fraud, variable annuity abuse, churning, and overconcentration. Chicago’s large derivatives and options market also creates specific exposure to unsuitable options strategy recommendations. Bakhtiari & Harrison evaluates all Chicago investment fraud claims at no charge.
Contact our investment fraud lawyers — free consultation
Contact Bakhtiari & Harrison for a free, confidential consultation. Our FINRA attorneys evaluate every potential investor claim at no charge. 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