Financial Services Litigation

Representing the Firm/Broker

Wilchins Cosentino & Novins Law Firm

Wilchins Cosentino & Novins’ experienced financial services litigators have a proven track record of successfully prosecuting cases representing securities and investment firms and financial advisors across the country.

The combination of our extensive knowledge of the investment community, experience in securities and fierce determination to advocate sets us apart from other law firms.

Working With Firms and Investment Advisors

The litigation attorneys at Wilchins Cosentino & Novins have extensive experience representing firms and investment advisors. We have a unique understanding of the complexities of securities arbitration, mediation, regulation and financial services litigation.

Our financial services litigation practice includes broker-dealer disputes, defending financial services professionals against customer-initiated claims, securities litigation, restrictive covenant litigation, expungement and regulatory and compliance matters.

Broker-Dealer Disputes

For almost thirty years, the securities litigation attorneys at Wilchins Cosentino & Novins have represented both securities firms and individual financial advisors in disputes before FINRA and the American Arbitration Association, building a wealth of experience defending against disciplinary actions both for brokers and broker-dealers accused of violating FINRA and SEC rules.

The securities attorneys at the firm help registered representatives navigate through FINRA arbitration, the FINRA enforcement process and the arbitration process. We also represent broker-dealers, financial advisors and other entities in litigations and arbitrations concerning sales practices violations and other various broker-dealer disputes throughout the United States.

Customer Initiated Claims

Wilchins Cosentino & Novins successfully defends firms and individual investment advisors in the securities industry against various customer claims such as claims made by customers for investment losses, including claims alleging breach of contract, breach of fiduciary, unauthorized trading, failure to supervise, investment fraud, misrepresentation and churning.

The financial services litigation attorneys at Wilchins Cosentino & Novins handle claims involving a variety of investment products, fee-based accounts, equities, bonds, mutual funds, options and variable and fixed annuities.

Securities Attorneys

The securities attorneys at Wilchins Cosentino & Novins represent clients throughout the industry. Whether your dispute arises in a traditional brokerage firm relationship or through private banking and wealth management at full-service financial institutions, the securities attorneys at WCN can help resolve issues involving investment clients and current or former employees.

Our attorneys have substantial experience in securities litigation, with an emphasis on disputes involving broker-dealers, registered representatives, investment advisors and financial planners. As securities fraud and investment fraud attorneys, we have extensive experience in complex litigation and thorough knowledge of both securities law and the investment community.

In our financial services litigation practice, we often represent investment professionals, advisors and their managers in compliance examinations, investigations, administrative proceedings and enforcement actions brought by regulatory bodies including the SEC, FINRA and state securities agencies.

The firm’s securities litigation experience includes substantial work in the following areas:

  • defending against claims asserted by institutional and retail customers, such as those alleging securities or investment fraud, misrepresentation, unauthorized exercise of discretion, churning, unsuitability, failure to supervise, improper margin calls and unfair securities liquidations.
  • appearing in investment-related arbitrations administered by FINRA and the American Arbitration Association.
  • representing financial advisors in FINRA enforcement actions; internal investigations relating to potential legal/compliance issues; defense of investor claims of fraud and misrepresentation and other violations of securities laws.
  • representing firms in a wide range of civil disputes. We have represented our clients in these disputes in Federal and State courts around the country, as well as arbitration sponsored by self-regulatory organizations including FINRA.

Wilchins Cosentino & Novins handles securities and financial services matters before FINRA, SEC and state regulators involving various subject matters, including:

  • Fee-based brokerage accounts
  • Supervision
  • Market timing of mutual funds and variable annuities
  • Mark-ups
  • Market manipulation
  • Sales practices relating to variable annuities
  • Options trading and supervision
  • Investment advisor services
Restrictive Covenant Litigation

Wilchins Cosentino & Novins represents financial institutions and employees in non-competition, non-solicitation, employee raiding, litigation and arbitration matters including arbitration of broker/dealer registered representative disputes before FINRA.

We routinely represent both member firms and registered representatives nationally and throughout New England, in injunction hearings in federal and state courts.

Expungement

When a customer files a claim against a financial advisor, in most cases, that claim is recorded in the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority’s (FINRA’s) Central Registration Depository (CRD) and BrokerCheck website. FINRA requires disclosure of any consumer-initiated, investment-related arbitrations and civil litigation proceedings. These records persist in CRD and BrokerCheck permanently. Even if the claim is frivolous, the mere allegation of wrongdoing by a financial advisor can have negative consequences that last well beyond the arbitration or civil proceeding. Most potential customers research a financial advisor before retaining their services. If negative comments exist, most potential customers will look elsewhere for a financial advisor.

The most effective remedy is to eliminate customer claims from your record. If a financial advisor is able to meet the requirements for expungement, which are set forth in the FINRA rules, a successful expungement request removes the dispute from both the financial advisor’s CRD and BrokerCheck record. Wilchins Cosentino & Novins has obtained numerous orders on behalf of registered representatives, requiring the expungement of information on Form U-5.

Regulatory and Compliance

Wilchins Cosentino & Novins represents firms in the financial services industry and their officers, directors and employees in regulatory examinations, investigations and enforcement actions by federal, state and SRO regulators. In addition to representing clients with respect to investigations, the regulatory and compliance attorneys at the firm advise clients with regard to compliance-related matters, such as questions relating to supervision, books-and-records maintenance, Form U-4 and U-5 filings, and customer privacy. We also represent advisory firms and their personnel in employment disputes, including violations of non-competition and non-solicitation agreements and claims of defamation on Form U-5 filings.

Meet Our Attorneys Leading Financial Services Litigation at Wilchins Cosentino & Novins

MA Attorney Michael B . Cosentino

Michael B. Cosentino

Partner

MA Attorney Susan Donaldson Novins

Susan Donaldson Novins

Partner

Representative Cases

Successful representation of National Brokerage Firms regarding the wrongful termination of a financial advisor, payment of promissory notes and business disputes.

Successful representation of National Brokerage Firms and local broker-dealers regarding claims of negligence, lack of supervision and breach of contract claims brought by customers against brokerage firms and financial advisors.

Successful representation of broker-dealers against former financial advisors in breach of employment agreement.

Successful representation of customers against broker-dealers for claims of unsuitability, negligence, churning and breach of duty of care.

Successful representation of broker-dealer against claims of fraud, breach of contract and conversion of assets.

Representation of financial advisors seeking to expunge unfounded customer complaints from their registration records.

Counseling firm clients in investigations and inquiries before government agencies and self-regulatory organizations.

Arbitration of cases involving state and federal securities laws, fraud, negligent misrepresentation and breach of fiduciary duty for both firm/broker and investors.

Why WCN for Financial Services Litigation

Why Law Firm

Right-sized. We are large enough to have the depth of expertise and knowledge, while small enough to be available, accessible and personal.

High Caliber Legal Services. Our securities attorneys are experienced, solutions oriented, and have a proven track record in financial services litigation. We put our extensive knowledge and legal acumen to work for our clients.

Breadth of Practice Areas. We designed our law firm and our practice areas to offer a breadth of legal expertise to best serve our clients.
Concierge Approach. Our clients are assured of our accessibility, personal attention and skilled guidance as we seamlessly and adeptly address their legal needs.
Exceptional Value. We deliver exceptional value by being efficient; offering value that Boston-based firms cannot match.
microphone

Channel WCN

The Latest in Law

WCN News & Insights
Quit Procrastinating, Reduce Tax Liabilities!

Quit Procrastinating, Reduce Tax Liabilities!

Many individuals may overlook the potential estate tax consequences of owning a valuable primary residence or vacation property. Without proper planning, these assets could significantly increase the value of the individual’s taxable estate and result in higher estate...

read more

Watch the final installment of the Spring 2023 Radio Entrepreneurs Family Business Association (FBA) Panel Discussion as Attorney Stephen Wilchins and the panel talk about “Transitioning the Entrepreneurial Family Enterprise” Part 3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEtH0nJNoxA Watch part three, the final installment of Radio Entrepreneurs Family Business Association (FBA) Spring 2023 Panel series. Gain insight and advice from Stephen Wilchins, founding partner at Wilchins Cosentino & Novins, a...

read more