Forchelli Deegan Terrana LLP maintains a national practice focused on the representation of securities industry companies as well as individual professionals and individual investors.

With well-experienced lawyers, including former FINRA registered representatives and a former FINRA general securities principal, we possess hands-on experience with a broad array of investment products, including equities, private placements, alternative investments, bonds, annuities as well as income and debt instruments.

Our team serves as outside General Counsel for Broker-Dealers, providing day-to-day legal and business counseling regarding compliance with SEC, FINRA, as well as individual state blue sky rules and regulations.

We also provide results-oriented representation throughout all stages of regulatory inquiries and investigations, as well as enforcement matters initiated by the SEC, FINRA and state securities agencies. This includes the analysis and response to customer complaints, drafting of responses to requests for information and documents, appearance at on-the-record interviews and depositions, drafting of Wells Submissions as well as defense of formal disciplinary proceedings. We regularly appear as counsel on behalf of Broker-Dealers as well as Associated Persons confronted with customer-initiated claims before FINRA, AAA, state and federal courts.

We have successfully litigated both Claimant and Respondent causes of action related to a comprehensive spectrum of sales practice violations including unsuitability, excessive trading, unauthorized trading, fraud, market manipulation, failure to supervise, and control-person liability. Leveraging our backgrounds in the securities industry, we have likewise successfully represented numerous public and private investors in the recovery of damages under federal and state securities laws, as well as common-law claims.

As trial lawyers, we understand that outcomes – whether by direct negotiated disposition, mediation or formally adjudicated on the merits – are determined by preparation. We emphasize client collaboration and communication as part of that process to ensure command of the operative facts and relevant legal issues.

Utilizing the firm’s strength in Employment and Labor law, along with its depth of experience in the securities industry, we provide representation and advice on a wide array of employment matters, including recruitment, onboarding, registered representative and other associated person agreements, broker protocol compliance, defense and enforcement of restrictive covenants along with other competition issues. We have successfully arbitrated industry claims involving employment agreements, non-competition covenants, tortious interference claims, wrongful termination, and expungement.

The Securities Litigation and Regulation practice group likewise works closely with our attorneys in the Banking & Finance, Tax, Corporate, and Mergers & Acquisitions practice groups to provide our clients with a wealth of additional legal services, including navigating FINRA’s Rule 1017 Broker-Dealer acquisition process.