Financial Industry Regulatory Authority rejects initial claims against advisor, awards damages on counterclaims

Hicks Thomas LLP partner Robin Harrison secured a significant arbitration victory before the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) on behalf of a veteran financial advisor, defeating claims brought by his former firm and prevailing on multiple counterclaims.

The case, initiated by the advisor’s former investment advisory firm, sought damages based on allegations that he violated contractual non-competition obligations before and after his departure from the firm. Following a five-day hearing, the three-member arbitration panel rejected those claims in their entirety and found in favor of Hicks Thomas’s client on his counterclaims, awarding him damages for defamation, unpaid compensation, and attorneys’ fees.

“The arbitration award confirms that our client, one of the top investment advisors in Texas, acted properly and was wrongfully accused,” said Hicks Thomas partner Robin Harrison. “The outcome speaks for itself: the claims against him were unfounded, and his good name and reputation have been restored.”

The Hicks Thomas trial team also included partner Colin Watterson and associate Raymond Chang.

About Hicks Thomas LLP

Founded in 1997, Texas-based Hicks Thomas LLP is a premier litigation firm representing plaintiffs and defendants across the nation. With offices in Houston, Austin, Beaumont, Amarillo, and Sacramento, California, the firm provides in-depth experience in cases involving oil and gas (upstream, midstream, and downstream), construction, environmental, complex commercial, toxic tort, construction, products liability, corporate governance, securities, banking, insurance coverage, transportation, trade secrets, and general business litigation. Visit the firm at http://www.hicks-thomas.com.

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