Have you been damaged as the result of investment fraud? Representation accepted on a contingent fee basis.  » View Our New Client Questionnaire « 
Guliano Law Firm Home
Home > Finra Securities Arbitration > Securities Arbitration Process

Explore Securities Arbitration
Arbitration Is Litigation
Securities Arbitration Process
Arbitrators
Discovery
Arbitration Awards
Legal Basis for Arbitration

Related Articles
  SEC Charges Psychic with Securities Fraud
   SEC Penalties Seen As Weak
  Investor Claims against Stockbrokers for Fraud Continue to Soar
  Prudential Investment Management Fraud
  Stock Broker Arbitration Claims Up 49% From 2007
  J.P. Turner Fined $250,000 for Failing to Supervise Commissions Charged on.
  Securities Fraud Investigation Against Wall Street Firms
  The SEC charges GunnAllen Financial stock broker Frank Bluestein with fraud to fund $250 million Ponzi scheme
Securities Arbitration Newsletter

The Securities Arbitration Process

Securities Arbitration before FINRA is purportedly a quick, easy and inexpensive method of resolving securities disputes. Some practitioners disagree. On June 7, 2004, FINRA Dispute Resolution implemented on a national basis various measures to expedite arbitration proceedings in matters involving senior or seriously ill parties.

Generally, from the date a Statement of Claim is filed to a final hearing the process generally takes between 12 and 15 months. Upon receipt of a Statement of Claim, the Respondent (i.e. the brokerage firm's lawyers) have 45 days to respond. Generally, within twenty days following the entry of appearance by counsel or the filing of an Answer, the FINRA Dispute Resolution Staff will provide a list of proposed arbitrators to the parties from which they may rank or strike proposed arbitrators. The parties are provided 20 days to complete and submit these rankings to to FINRA.

Typically, depending on which Regional Office of FINRA Dispute Resolution is processing your claim, an Initial Pre-hearing Conference will be scheduled within 30 days of the submission of their arbitrator rankings by the parties.

During the Initial Pre-hearing Conference (which is held telephonically) according to a script, Initial Prehearing Conference Script, the arbitrators and the parties will select dates for the completion of discovery, the filing of any discovery motions, or other motions, and any telephonic hearings or conferences with respect to these motions, the filing of pre-hearing briefs or memoranda, and the final hearing dates.

Hearings generally last three days. However, three day hearings can easily turn into three week hearings, dispersed over a series of hearing dates over several months, for a variety of reasons, including recalcitrant witnesses, over-zealous counsel, or inattentive arbitrators.

Within 30 days, and often sooner, the Arbitration Panel will render an Award. Download Arbitrators Reference Guide

Accordingly, it is generally agreed, that in most cases, from the filing of the Statement of Claim to the rendering of an Award, from start to finish, it takes approximately 12 to 18 months in most securities arbitrations.

 Is Arbitration Cheaper?     Initial Prehearing Conference Script     Arbitration Start to Finish     Arbitrators Reference Guide





FINRA Securities Arbitration
- Arbitration is Litigation
- The Securities Arbitration Process
- The Arbitrators
- Discovery
- Arbitration Awards

Latest Securities News
- Archive

Claims Against Brokers
- Suitability
- Misrepresentations and Omissions
- Mutual Fund Fraud
- Annuity Fraud
- Failure to Supervise
- Breach of Fiduciary Duty
- Unauthorized Trading
- Securities Of Financial Institutions

Investor Resources
- Check Your Broker
- Check Your Brokerage Firm
- Check Your Investment Advisor
- Investor Resource Links
Securities Arbitration Blog
- Archive
- Categories

Contact Us
- Online Contact Form
- Evaluation Process
- Frequently Asked Questions

About The Firm
- The Lawyers
- The Professional Staff
- The Green Initiative
Our Office Location(s):
230 South Broad Street
Suite 601
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102

Telephone: (215) 413-8223
Telecopier/Fax: (215) 413-8223
Toll Free: 1(877) SEC-ATTY
Email: contact@securitiesarbitrations.com

Martindale-Hubbel
View Disclaimer
Copyright 2010 ©. All rights reserved. Nicholas J. Guiliano, Esquire
Philadelphia Lawyer - Stockbroker Fraud - Investment Fraud Lawyer