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Protecting Texas Investors from Securities Fraud
When you’ve suffered investment losses due to broker misconduct or securities fraud in Texas, you need a dedicated Texas investment fraud lawyer who understands the state’s unique regulatory framework and business environment. At Patil Law, P.C., we specialize in helping Texas investors recover losses caused by financial advisor misconduct, securities fraud, and deceptive investment schemes.
Since our founding, Patil Law, P.C. has recovered over $25 million for clients nationwide, with significant recoveries for Texas investors from Houston to Dallas-Fort Worth and throughout the state. Our firm brings specialized expertise in securities law, FINRA regulations, and Texas’ robust investor protection statutes that residents need when facing devastating financial losses.
Investment Fraud in the Lone Star State: Understanding the Texas Landscape
Investment fraud occurs when financial professionals use deceptive or manipulative practices that cause investors to lose money. In Texas, we’ve observed concerning patterns of investment fraud targeting various communities:
- Oil and gas investment scams capitalizing on Texas’ energy industry prominence
- Real estate investment fraud particularly prevalent in rapidly growing markets like Austin, Houston, and Dallas
- Retirement investment schemes targeting Texas’ growing retiree population
- Affinity fraud schemes within Texas’ diverse cultural and religious communities
- Unsuitable investments recommended to Texas investors with conservative investment needs
- Ponzi and pyramid schemes devastating investor communities from San Antonio to El Paso
Example Scenario: A broker in Houston convinces a Texas oil industry professional to invest heavily in a “revolutionary” energy startup, misrepresenting the risks while promising unrealistic returns based on industry connections. When the investment collapses, the investor loses a significant portion of their life savings intended for their family’s future.
How a Texas FINRA Lawyer Can Help Recover Your Losses
When you hired your financial advisor or broker, you trusted them to act in your best interest and uphold Texas values of honesty and integrity. Unfortunately, many financial professionals in Texas breach this trust through negligence or deliberate fraud. As experienced Texas FINRA lawyers, we understand how to navigate both Texas courts and FINRA arbitration to help recover your investment losses.
FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority) provides a specialized forum for resolving disputes between investors and financial professionals. As your Texas FINRA attorney, we will:
- Conduct a thorough investigation to identify all instances of misconduct
- Document violations of Texas securities laws, federal regulations, and FINRA rules
- File and prosecute your FINRA arbitration claim or court action as appropriate
- Negotiate settlements when appropriate to recover your losses
- Represent you at hearings before FINRA arbitration panels or Texas courts
Many Texas investors don’t realize that while FINRA arbitration is often mandatory, Texas’ strong investor protection laws may provide additional avenues for recovery. Having an experienced Texas investment fraud lawyer representing your interests is critical to navigate these complex legal processes successfully.
Preston L. (attorney)
Joan P. (attorney)
Texas Securities Laws and Investor Protection
Texas has strong securities laws designed to protect investors in the state. The Texas Securities Act (Vernon’s Texas Civil Statutes, Article 581-1 et seq.) provides robust safeguards for investors and is enforced by the Texas State Securities Board, one of the oldest state securities regulators in the nation.
Our Texas investment fraud attorneys leverage both state and federal laws to build the strongest possible case for our clients. We work closely with the Texas State Securities Board when appropriate to address fraudulent investment activities affecting Texas residents.
Common Types of Investment Fraud Affecting Texas Investors
Our Texas investment fraud attorneys regularly handle cases involving:
- Unsuitable investment recommendations that don’t align with Texas clients’ risk tolerance and financial goals
- Breach of fiduciary duty where advisors place their interests above Texas investors
- Material misrepresentations about investment risks and potential returns
- Excessive trading (churning) to generate commissions at Texas clients’ expense
- Failure to diversify portfolios to protect Texas investors from market volatility
- Selling away where brokers sell investments not approved by their firms
- Ponzi and pyramid schemes targeting Texas communities
- Elder financial abuse targeting Texas’ growing senior population
- Oil and gas investment fraud particularly common in Texas’ energy-focused economy
- Private placement fraud involving unregistered securities
If you’ve experienced significant investment losses in Texas, don’t assume it’s simply due to market conditions. Many losses result from actionable misconduct that an experienced Texas investment fraud lawyer can help address.
Why Texas Investors Choose Patil Law, P.C.
When Texas investors face investment losses, they need a law firm with specialized expertise in securities law and FINRA arbitration. Patil Law, P.C. brings unmatched experience to these complex cases:
Meet Chetan Patil
Chetan Patil is the founder and Managing Partner of Patil Law, P.C.. He brings over 15 years of extensive experience in diverse complex disputes and transactions across the country. Mr. Patil specializes in litigations, trials, arbitrations, and appeals of complex securities, FINRA, financial and business disputes, with an emphasis in securities, financial services, and financial regulatory law.
Few attorneys have the depth and breadth of his legal experience and judgment. He has handled and overseen well over a thousand litigation and arbitration cases in Federal and State Courts and arbitration forums across the country. Chetan has represented defrauded investors, family trusts, family offices, public and private companies of all kinds (including banks and other financial institutions), broker-dealers, registered investment advisors, advisory firms, and securities brokers.
Chetan’s vast trial and arbitration experience includes business, securities, and financial fraud; breach of contract; real estate transactions and disputes; employment disputes; unfair competition; noncompete and restrictive covenant cases; and intellectual property disputes including copyright and trademark infringement. He is a highly experienced and respected litigator as well as an effective negotiator.
Mr. Patil began his career at a large (over 150 attorneys) Midwestern law firm. He then was recruited to a senior litigation position at Cetera Financial Group, one of the largest brokerage firms in the United States, with over $115 billion in assets under management as of 2022. In this role, he managed internal attorneys, external legal counsel, significant regulatory matters, and significant legal matters with exposure exceeding $1 million. On average, he would be responsible for an annual litigation portfolio of approximately $20 million.
This insider perspective gives our Texas clients a significant advantage when pursuing FINRA claims against major financial institutions.
Special Focus: Oil and Gas Investment Fraud in Texas
Texas’ prominent position in the energy industry makes oil and gas investment fraud particularly common in the state. Unscrupulous promoters often target Texas investors with fraudulent oil and gas schemes, capitalizing on local interest in the industry and promising extraordinary returns based on “new drilling technology” or “untapped reserves.”
Our Texas investment fraud attorneys have specific experience with oil and gas investment fraud cases and understand the complex technical and regulatory issues involved. We work diligently to help victims of these schemes recover their losses and hold the perpetrators accountable.
Signs You May Be a Victim of Investment Fraud in Texas
Texas investors should watch for these warning signs of potential investment fraud:
- Unexplained drops in account value
- Unauthorized transactions appearing in your statements
- Excessive or frequent trading activity
- Investments that don’t match your stated objectives and risk tolerance
- Over-concentration in a single investment or sector
- Promises of guaranteed returns or “risk-free” investments
- Pressure to act quickly on investment opportunities
- Difficulty withdrawing funds from your account
- Missing account statements or confirmations
- Investments not registered with the Texas State Securities Board
If you notice these red flags, contact a Texas investment fraud lawyer immediately to protect your rights.
The FINRA Arbitration Process for Texas Investors
Most investment agreements contain mandatory arbitration clauses that require disputes to be resolved through FINRA rather than Texas courts. The FINRA arbitration process typically involves:
- Filing a Statement of Claim detailing the misconduct and your losses
- Respondent’s Answer where the broker/firm responds to allegations
- Arbitrator Selection choosing the panel who will decide your case
- Discovery exchange of relevant documents and information
- Pre-hearing Conferences to address procedural issues
- Evidentiary Hearing similar to a trial but less formal
- Final Decision which is binding and difficult to appeal
As experienced Texas FINRA lawyers, we navigate this complex process on behalf of our clients to maximize their recovery potential.
Serving Investors Throughout Texas
Patil Law, P.C. represents investors across the Lone Star State, including:
- Houston
- Dallas
- San Antonio
- Austin
- Fort Worth
- El Paso
- Arlington
- Corpus Christi
- Plano
- Lubbock
- Laredo
- Irving
- Frisco
- McAllen
- Waco
- And all surrounding communities
Don’t Wait to Protect Your Financial Future
If you’ve suffered investment losses in Texas, don’t delay seeking legal advice. FINRA claims and Texas securities laws are subject to strict time limitations. Waiting too long can permanently bar your right to recovery.
Contact Patil Law, P.C. today for a confidential consultation with an experienced Texas investment fraud lawyer. We’ll evaluate your case, explain your legal options, and develop a strategy to help recover your investment losses.
FINRA ARBITRATION REPRESENTATION FOR TEXAS INVESTORS
Contact our office today at 800-950-6553 or click here for a free consultation.