Broker-Dealer Representation – Advocates in the Broker-Dealer Industry
At Bakhtiari & Harrison, we provide representation and legal services for Broker-Dealers, officers, directors, registered representatives and other employees. Our law firm provides counsel through every step of Broker-Dealer operations, from setting up your compliance frameworks to managing complex legal challenges. We understand the broker-dealer sector deeply, which lets us help you navigate the tricky world of financial regulations confidently.
Our goal is to ensure you operate within legal limits while protecting your business interests and helping you grow. We focus on keeping you compliant, managing your business risks, and helping you handle emerging market challenges effectively.
What Do Broker-Dealers Do?
Broker-Dealers are vital in the securities markets. They bridge buyers and sellers, provide investment advice, and manage client portfolios. This dual role means they must follow strict regulatory requirements, which include detailed compliance protocols and operational rules.
Broker-Dealers are vital to making markets work well. They help keep markets liquid and efficient but face many legal duties and are closely watched by regulatory groups such as the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) and FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority). Broker-Dealers face many legal challenges:
- They must continuously follow securities laws and rules.
- They need strong defenses against any claims of unfair sales practices.
- They must manage regulatory investigations by groups like FINRA and the SEC and respond to Wells Notices.
- They need skilled representation in state regulatory investigations and enforcement actions.
- They must handle arbitration and other dispute resolutions effectively.
- They must navigate complex employment law issues, including contract talks and disputes.
These challenges require a legal partner who understands the laws and how Broker-Dealers operate.
Meet Our Partners: Ryan Bakhtiari and David Harrison
Ryan Bakhtiari
Ryan Bakhtiari is a past member and Chair of FINRA’s National Arbitration and Mediation Committee (NAMC) which makes rules, policy and procedure for broker-dealer, employment and customer disputes heard by FINRA arbitrators. Mr. Bakhtiari also served as a board member and President of PIABA (Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association). His extensive experience in securities law and understanding of FINRA’s regulatory framework make him uniquely qualified to handle complex investigations and ensure your rights are effectively protected.
David Harrison
David Harrison brings a wealth of litigation experience to the table. His career includes time at the District Attorney’s Office, where he developed his litigation skills, and as in-house counsel at Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, where he represented the firm and its stockbrokers and employees. David also held a Series Seven license from his time at Shearson Lehman Brothers, further enhancing his understanding of the financial industry and its regulatory demands.
Together, Mr. Bakhtiari and Mr. Harrison provide innovative legal solutions and anticipate shifts in the industry, preparing our clients for what lies ahead.
Our Legal Services for Broker-Dealers
We offer a range of legal services designed for Broker-Dealers:
- Regulatory Compliance and Defense: We create and maintain compliance programs that meet SEC and FINRA standards. We also defend Broker-Dealers in investigations and manage state regulatory inquiries.
- Litigation and Arbitration: We defend against sales practice complaints and manage disputes in various settings. We handle arbitration processes to resolve conflicts favorably for our clients.
- Risk Management: We develop strategies to identify and reduce operational and financial risks. Our proactive steps protect you from unexpected problems and strengthen your market position.
- Employment Law: We guide you on employment contracts and strategic staffing decisions. We also defend you in employment-related disputes, ensuring your practices meet legal standards and support your business goals.
For more information concerning areas of routine representation:
- Customer Disputes
- Industry Disputes
- Employment
- Regulatory
- Registered Person Transition Between Firms
Why Choose Bakhtiari & Harrison?
Bakhtiari & Harrison are more than legal advisors—we are your strategic partners in the financial services industry. We tackle your immediate and long-term legal needs, ensuring you thrive in today’s complex financial markets. As regulations change and new challenges arise, we stay committed to providing advanced legal solutions that strengthen your position in the market.
Broker-Dealers looking for a legal team that offers energetic advocacy and forward-thinking strategies will find unmatched expertise and commitment at Bakhtiari & Harrison. We are ready to support you through legal challenges, bringing clarity and security to an industry known for constant change and strict oversight.