The Role and Importance of Securities Arbitration Attorneys

As an investor, it is very likely that you maintain an account (or accounts) with a broker or brokerage firm. This also exposes you to the risk of facing monetary damage, thus resulting in a dispute between you and your brokerage firm. In an age of volatile economic conditions, it is very often that we see markets crashing and investors losing money. Should such a situation arise, the contract you signed with your broker typically mandates that your case be presented in front of a self regulatory organization such as the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) to conduct a securities arbitration, and not a court of law. Such cases are best pursued by an expert, and seek out securities arbitration attorneys. Why do you need securities arbitration attorneys? Most people associate securities arbitration as being a rather simple and straight forward process. On the contrary, securities arbitration is a complex process that hinges on the securities arbitrators you choose and the attorney who pursues your case. The elements involved in arbitration are at par with those of a full-fledged court proceeding. It is not as informal a process as people consider it to be. This reiterates the need for an experienced trial lawyer that can carefully build a strong case for you. Most brokerage firms have their own experienced well paid attorneys, hence as an investor it also becomes imperative for you to hire reputable securities arbitration attorneys to represent you. rnWhile selecting a securities arbitration attorney, investors should select one with a rich experience and knowledge of FINRA’s procedural rules. The track record of your chosen attorney is also equally important. If your chosen attorney has a history of successive wins in FINRA arbitration, you are most likely making the right choice. What is FINRA and why do you have to approach it? In 2007, the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD) merged to form the Financial Industry Regulator Authority (FINRA). This body comprises its members—individual brokers and brokerage firms. FINRA regulates and monitors itself. All contractually bound customers that wish to file legal claims against their broker are required to take their dispute to FINRA’s Office of Dispute Resolution (ODR), and not to a court of law. There are virtually hundreds of intricacies in dealing with such a case, and only experienced securities arbitration attorneys can professionally guide you. rnWhen a customer signs a brokerage agreement, he or she is also agreeing to the fact that the ODR is the exclusive forum for customer-broker dispute resolution. It is common to see that most brokerage agreements/documentation favor brokerage firms. So in order to protect your rights, and to pursue your claims against your broker, you would need to begin with searching for and selecting the best arbitration attorneys.