Eccleston Law News and Updates

RIAs Increasingly Rely on Non-Competes Borrowed From Broker-Dealers

December 22nd, 2022 at 12:15 PM
Registered investment advisory firms (RIAs) have borrowed a legal tactic from the broker-dealer space, as RIAs increasingly take defectors to court with allegations of non-compete clause violations, according to a recent article published by AdvisorHub. 
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Eccleston Law LLC Investigates Fallout at Firms Fined by the SEC Over Electronic Communications

December 16th, 2022 at 1:34 PM
The SEC charged several broker-dealers with failure to maintain and preserve electronic communications, including text messages, assessing over $1 billion in fines.  According to the SEC press release, “The firms admitted the facts set forth in their respective SEC orders, acknowledged that their conduct violated recordkeeping provisions of the federal securities laws, agreed to pay combined penalties of more than $1.1 billion, and have begun implementing improvements to their compliance policies and procedures to settle these matters.”
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Morgan Stanley Seeks to Send Brokers’ Deferred Comp Lawsuit to Arbitration

July 18th, 2022 at 3:33 PM
Morgan Stanley has asked a federal court to stay a proposed class action lawsuit related to its deferred compensation plan and compel 12 of its former brokers who filed the suit to arbitrate their claims.
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Eccleston Law LLC Investigates Recovery Options for NRIA Investors

June 23rd, 2022 at 8:33 AM
Headquartered in Secaucus, NJ, National Realty Investment Advisors (NRIA) recently declared bankruptcy amid investor redemption requests, federal and state investigations, and unsustainable debt.    
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More Ex-Morgan Stanley FAs Demand Deferred Comp — in Arbitration

March 30th, 2022 at 10:02 AM
Eccleston Law is representing 10 ex-Morgan Stanley advisors in their claim over forfeited deferred compensation which was filed last week with FINRA.    
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Morgan Stanley Hit With Another Deferred Compensation Claim

March 29th, 2022 at 12:18 PM
Morgan Stanley’s legal woes over its withholding of deferred compensation from brokers who leave for another firm are multiplying. Attorney James Eccleston stressed that a threat still persists in the federal proposed class action that Morgan Stanley will persuade the court to compel the plaintiffs to arbitrate.          
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DocuSign Use Dooms “Swath” of LPL Brokers

February 17th, 2022 at 10:04 AM
LPL Financial, the largest independent broker-dealer by its sales force of close to 20,000, is terminating “a swath of brokers” over allegations related to their use of electronic signature software DocuSign, according to a lawyer and a recruiter working with affected brokers.
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Opinion: Three Ways Regulators Throw Advisors Under the Bus

July 7th, 2021 at 1:23 PM
Financial services is the only industry where you are guilty after being found innocent.
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Finra Sanctions Ex-LPL Broker Over ‘Outside’ Notary Biz

June 17th, 2021 at 1:27 PM
Finra is “laser-focused” on brokers’ unreported outside business activities, according to James Eccleston, a lawyer in Chicago who often represents brokers.
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Eccleston Law Launches Search to Hire Additional Attorneys Nationwide

April 15th, 2021 at 12:37 PM
The needs of financial advisors for legal services never have been greater.  Advisors have come to realize that they cannot rely upon counsel provided by their firms, due to inherent conflicts of interest.
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LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

January 17, 2025
FINRA Suspends and Fines Advisor for Misleading L Bond Sales

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has suspended and fined Alan Mason for violating Regulation Best Interest by recommending high-risk L bonds to a retail customer.

January 16, 2025
Former Merrill Lynch Advisor Wins Expungement of Allegations Tied to CBD Business

Charles Thomas “Todd” Mercer Jr., a former top Merrill Lynch advisor, successfully cleared his public record of allegations that hindered his ability to attract clients after transitioning to an independent practice. 

January 16, 2025
Attorney Eccleston Receives 2025 Top-Rated Lawyer Recognition

James Eccleston has been recognized as a top-rated lawyer with a superb attorney rating in 2025 by the Martindale-Avvo legal community.