PROBLEMS WITH A STOCKBROKER OR ADVISOR?
BROKEN PROMISES
UNSUITABLE INVESTMENTS
NEGLIGENT TRADING
POSSIBLE FRAUD
UNAUTHORIZED TRADING
CHURNING
MISMANAGEMENT
MISREPRESENTATIONS
"A true gladiator in the 21st century" - Former Client
"The finest attorney one can find" - William, Arbitration Client
"A fabulous attorney" - Irene, Arbitration Client
"A passionate advocate for defrauded investors" - Scott Silver, attorney
"One of the top FINRA attorneys in Southern California." - Christopher Mass, attorney
WHAT WE DO FOR YOU
Mr. Stephens, who has been licensed as an attorney since 1975, and served investors for decades, fights to recover damages to investors caused by improper stockbroker and advisor misconduct, such as fraud, broken promises, excessive trading, unauthorized trades, or unsuitable investments. Cases are usually taken on a contingent fee with proceedings in FINRA arbitration.
Based in Los Angeles, California, he has represented clients in FINRA arbitrations from all over the U.S., including New York, Florida, Alaska, Washington State, California, Kentucky, and Washington, D.C. in addition to clients abroad.
BAR Membership
• California
• Florida
• New York
• Washington, D.C.
• U.S. Supreme Court
• Also available to serve in other states
Notable Awards*
• Warren v. Morgan Stanley ($5 million)
• Saccheri v. A.G. Edwards ($3 million)
• Boll v. Merrill Lynch ($1.6 million)
*Highlighted in Wall Street Journal articles. Prospective clients may not obtain same or similar results.
ABOUT RICHARD A. STEPHENS
Mr. Stephens, who has been interviewed by CNBC and MONEY Magazine, is a former attorney with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission and currently serves on the "Chairman" arbitrator roster of FINRA.
Originally from New York, Mr. Stephens graduated from the University of Michigan with “High Distinction” and Phi Beta Kappa honors with a major in Economics. He began his career on Wall Street at Lazard Freres & Co., an international investment banking firm. After graduating with a Juris Doctor degree from Cornell University, he went on to practice law in New York City on Park Avenue with Otterbourg, Steindler, Houston & Rosen, primarily in business litigation.
Accepting the invitation for a Fellowship with the Center for Study of Financial Institutions and Securities Markets at the University of Pennsylvania, Mr. Stephens performed research on intricate legal questions under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and published several legal articles in law reviews. Following the Fellowship, which included finance course work at the Wharton School, Mr. Stephens was awarded an LL.M. (Master of Laws) post-doctorate degree in Securities Regulation from the University of Pennsylvania Law School.
Mr. Stephens then accepted a position as Attorney-Advisor with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C., initially with the Division of Investment Management, regulating investment advisors under the Investment Advisors Act, and mutual funds under the Investment Company Act. Thereafter, the Enforcement Division sought his services in its Organized Crime Branch, where Mr. Stephens presided over the first case to use the new U.S.-Swiss Treaty to open up Swiss bank accounts in a criminal investigation. In the evenings, Mr. Stephens, as an Adjunct Professor, taught business law to college students.
Accepting an offer to relocate to California, Mr. Stephens served as a Senior Attorney with the Atlantic Richfield Company (“ARCO”) at its corporate headquarters involving major litigation defending ARCO. At one point, he was responsible for supervising ARCO’s defense in most of its litigation cases nationwide. While at ARCO, Mr. Stephens underwent training in the Trial Attorneys Program sponsored by the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office, and performed pro bono services as a criminal prosecutor in Los Angeles.
Mr. Stephens decided to open his own litigation practice in Los Angeles, and ARCO became his principal client. Moreover, he was appointed by the Courts as a Judge pro tem, and sat on the bench for cases in the Los Angeles Municipal Court and Los Angeles Superior Court. Active in civic matters, Mr. Stephens was appointed and later reappointed to the State Architects Board by the Governor of California, where Mr. Stephens served as Vice-Chairman of the Enforcement Committee.
Since the 1990s, his practice has focused on representing investor clients and serving as a FINRA arbitrator.
CLIENT RECOMMENDATIONS
"A true gladiator in the 21st century."
- Irving Gelernter, client
"Without a doubt, the best protector of the victimized, 'my gladiator!'"
- Marilyn Rosov, client
Contact for
FREE CONSULTATION
For any general inquiries, send an email to: RichardStephensEsquire@gmail.com
