Bakhtiari & Harrison — FINRA Attorneys & Securities Law Firm
About the firm
Bakhtiari & Harrison is a securities law firm focused on two practice areas: representing investors who have suffered losses in disputes with brokerage firms and financial advisers, and representing financial professionals in employment, regulatory, and compensation matters. The firm is headquartered in Studio City, California, and represents clients in all 50 states.
The firm was founded by Ryan Bakhtiari, who began his securities law career at Aidikoff, Uhl & Bakhtiari in Beverly Hills and practiced there for 28 years, and David Harrison, whose career spans Shearson Lehman Brothers, the New York City District Attorney’s Office, Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, and private practice. Their combined credentials give the firm a perspective on FINRA arbitration and securities litigation that is genuinely unmatched in the market.
The partners
Ryan Bakhtiari — Partner
Ryan Bakhtiari 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 named a Southern California Super Lawyer every year from 2005 to 2026 and is admitted in California, New York, Texas, the District of Columbia, and multiple federal courts. He presently serves as a FINRA securities arbitrator. He has authored more than 25 articles on securities arbitration and investor protection and has spoken at the Practicing Law Institute and the FINRA Annual Conference. He has been quoted by the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, Reuters, and the Los Angeles Times.
David Harrison — Partner
David Harrison brings a three-phase career to every matter: Series 7-licensed registered representative at Shearson Lehman Brothers, assistant district attorney in New York City where he prosecuted financial fraud and directed police investigations, and in-house counsel at Morgan Stanley Dean Witter where he defended the firm against investor and regulatory claims. He now uses that inside knowledge to represent investors. He has been named a Southern California Super Lawyer every year from 2015 to 2026 and is admitted in California and New York. He serves as a FINRA securities arbitrator and is a member of PIABA.
Nationwide Representation in FINRA Securities Arbitration and Securities Litigation
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) is a non-governmental organization overseeing brokerage firms and their registered representatives in the United States. The vast majority of securities industry disputes are heard by FINRA arbitration panels located throughout the country. Bakhtiari & Harrison represents parties on a nationwide basis.
Members of the national and local press have covered our attorneys on securities arbitration, securities litigation, regulatory and employment issues of importance, some of which can be found at this site under the In The News section.
Track record
- $250 million+ recovered for investors and financial professionals in FINRA arbitration and securities litigation over four decades.
- Hosier v. Citigroup Global Markets (2011): $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. Ryan Bakhtiari served as co-lead counsel.
- Thousands of FINRA arbitration cases resolved through full evidentiary hearing or settlement on behalf of investors and financial professionals nationwide.
How the firm is different
Most securities law firms are staffed by former defense-side attorneys — lawyers who built their careers defending brokerage firms and only later switched to represent investors. Bakhtiari & Harrison is different. Ryan Bakhtiari has spent his entire career representing investors and financial professionals as an advocate, not a corporate defender. David Harrison brings the reverse perspective — years of defending a major Wall Street firm from the inside — which he now uses exclusively to anticipate and defeat brokerage firm defenses on behalf of clients.
Ryan Bakhtiari’s service as FINRA NAMC Chairman means the firm participated directly in writing the rules that govern FINRA arbitration. That institutional knowledge — of why rules were written, how they are interpreted, and where they leave room for advocacy — is a direct strategic advantage.
Practice areas
Investor representation
Bakhtiari & Harrison represents investors in FINRA arbitration and securities litigation involving broker fraud and advisor misconduct, unsuitable investment recommendations, elder financial fraud, Ponzi and pyramid schemes, investment 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.
Financial professional representation
For financial professionals, the firm handles FINRA expungement, compensation disputes and promissory note defense, employment disputes, outside business activity matters, and regulatory defense. Visit the Registered Persons page for a full overview.
Current investigations
Bakhtiari & Harrison is actively investigating potential claims on behalf of investors in a number of securities matters. For a current list of active investigations, visit the Investigations page. If you have suffered losses in a product or scheme not currently listed, contact the firm for a free evaluation — the firm evaluates all potential investor claims at no charge.
The importance of selecting experienced counsel
The choice of counsel is the single most important decision a litigant makes in a securities dispute. FINRA arbitration is not a court proceeding — there is no judge, the rules of evidence are loosely applied, and the outcome depends heavily on the preparation, knowledge, and persuasiveness of the attorneys involved. Read more about the importance of selection of experienced counsel.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Bakhtiari & Harrison located?
Bakhtiari & Harrison is headquartered at 12711 Ventura Blvd., Suite 315, Studio City, CA 91604. The office is minutes from Beverly Hills, Burbank, and the broader Los Angeles metro area. The firm represents clients nationwide — distance is never a barrier, as FINRA arbitration hearings are held near the claimant’s location.
Does the firm charge upfront fees?
No. All investor cases are handled on a contingency fee basis — Bakhtiari & Harrison is only paid if it recovers money for you. Initial consultations are free. If the firm does not recover, you owe nothing.
What types of cases does the firm handle?
Bakhtiari & Harrison handles two broad categories: investor claims against brokerage firms and financial advisers (FINRA arbitration, securities litigation, class actions), and financial professional matters (expungement, employment disputes, compensation disputes, regulatory defense). The firm evaluates all potential matters in a free initial consultation.
How does FINRA arbitration work?
FINRA arbitration is a private dispute resolution process — not a court proceeding — that resolves claims between investors and FINRA-registered broker-dealers. Most brokerage account agreements require arbitration rather than court litigation. The process involves filing a Statement of Claim, arbitrator selection, a discovery period, and an evidentiary hearing. Awards are binding and enforceable in federal court. Cases typically take 12 to 18 months from filing to award.
Contact Bakhtiari & Harrison
Call (800) 382-7969 or use the contact form for a free, confidential consultation. Bakhtiari & Harrison is located 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