Pittsburgh Investment Fraud Lawyers & FINRA Attorneys
Investment fraud lawyers serving Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh’s economic transformation — from steel industry to technology, healthcare, and higher education — has created a growing community of professional and institutional investors whose assets are managed through national broker-dealer networks. The Pittsburgh area’s substantial concentration of corporate employees with equity compensation, pension assets, and retirement savings creates specific investment fraud exposure, particularly in connection with employer stock overconcentration, rollover mismanagement, and unsuitable alternative investment recommendations.
FINRA arbitration hearings for Pittsburgh investors are held at the Philadelphia FINRA hearing location. Bakhtiari & Harrison represents Pittsburgh investors throughout the FINRA arbitration process.
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 in connection with an investment recommendation are actionable under federal securities law and FINRA rules.
- Unauthorized trading: executing transactions without prior client authorization violates the 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.
- Overconcentration: failing to maintain adequate diversification in a single security, sector, or product is a suitability violation.
- Product failure: unsuitable recommendations of complex or illiquid 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 Pittsburgh 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.
- FINRA hearings near you. FINRA arbitration hearings are held at the regional hearing location nearest the claimant — investors do not need to travel.
- Contingency fee representation. No recovery, no fee. Initial consultations are free.
Bakhtiari & Harrison also represents investors throughout Pennsylvania, including Philadelphia. For statewide Pennsylvania coverage visit the Pennsylvania Investment Fraud Lawyers page.
Frequently asked questions — Pittsburgh investment fraud lawyers
Do I need a local Pittsburgh attorney for a FINRA arbitration claim?
Not necessarily. FINRA arbitration hearings are held at the regional location nearest the claimant — not at the attorney’s office. Bakhtiari & Harrison represents investors nationwide and appears at FINRA hearing locations throughout the country. What matters most is the attorney’s specific FINRA arbitration experience, not their physical proximity.
What is the deadline to file a FINRA arbitration claim in Pennsylvania?
Under FINRA Rule 12206, claims must be filed within six years of the events giving rise to the dispute. Pennsylvania investors may also have state law claims with their own limitations periods. Contact Bakhtiari & Harrison promptly — deadlines are strictly enforced.
What investment fraud is most common in Pittsburgh?
Pittsburgh investors face broker misconduct claims across all categories, with particular patterns around employer stock overconcentration — Pittsburgh’s large corporate employee base creates significant exposure to brokers who fail to implement diversification strategies for concentrated stock positions. Variable annuity abuse, unsuitable rollover recommendations, and churning are also prevalent. Bakhtiari & Harrison evaluates all Pittsburgh investment fraud claims at no charge.
Does Bakhtiari & Harrison represent investors throughout Western Pennsylvania?
Yes. Bakhtiari & Harrison represents investors throughout Western Pennsylvania including Allegheny County, Butler County, Westmoreland County, and surrounding communities. FINRA arbitration hearings for Pittsburgh-area investors are held at the Philadelphia FINRA hearing location.
For investors throughout Pennsylvania, Bakhtiari & Harrison also represents investors in Philadelphia.
Contact our Pittsburgh 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