Top ContributorAward 2015David Nicholas Ferri
David Nicholas FerriReviewsout of 3 reviews

Institutional Investors & Trader Claims

At West Legal Group, we also represent professionals involved in the management of assets; whether in a capacity as a trader, fund manager, trustee, or as an executive seeking to raise capital for their business.

ASSET MANAGERS

Institutional investors can rely on the financial advisers and analysts of broker-dealers when making trading decisions and determining how to raise or deploy capital. A hedge fund or pension fund itself can also be the subject of fraud or negligence. The manager of the fund has to make investment decisions about how the invest the fund’s assets. When making those investment decisions, the trustee or manager can be deceived or otherwise given poor advice about the types of investments that should be selected. In extreme cases, advisors have even stolen pension assets by convincing the trustee to invest in what turn out to be fictitious investments.

While these types of situations are unfortunate for the investors and managers, they may and usually do, expose the fund to litigation risk, as well. Sound legal advice and strategy can offset losses and mitigate risk to the fund and its underlying partners or investors.

TRADING RELATED

Algorithmic trading is a method of executing orders using automated pre-programmed trading instructions accounting for variables such as time, price, and volume. This type of trading attempts to leverage the speed and computational resources of computers relative to human traders. Many times funds rely on market makers or trading platforms to achieve (or beat) various Volume weighted (VWAP) or Time weighted (TWAP) pricing metrics. ManyBroker-dealers tout their programs and systems. Securities regulations require certain parameters be adhered to and, in many cases, customer best execution, reporting, and other metrics must be met.

Investment fund managers need to rely on these assertions and the quality of trade executions. Additionally, the accuracy of risk tracking metrics and the performance of a trading platform may be pivotal to a fund’s performance strategy. It may prove difficult for a manager who suspects malfeasance or negligence to get the proper information, records, or know how to make their case.

Our lawyers at WLG have experience in trading and market making and can assist in reviewing:

  • the reporting of inaccurate prices
  • spoofing
  • quote stuffing
  • trade throughs
  • market manipulation
  • trading against orders
  • improper routing
  • routing internally (dark pools)

One of the biggest hurdles many institutions may face is getting arbitrators, judges or a jury to understand the intricacies of the algos, black box, and various trading strategies and the time / price requirements involved. Our job is to make sure that everyone understands the goals and responsibilities of the parties and that your case is presented in the simplest terms.

CASE REVIEW AND CONSULTATION AVAILABLE AT NO CHARGE

CORPORATE & CAPITAL MARKET CLIENTS

If you are a company using the securities markets to expand, invest, or raise capital you are not immune from unscrupulous or poor-advised strategies. Underwriters and advisors may recommend various strategies like crowdfunding, Reg D private capital, listing on various public exchanges, up-listing from the OTC, convertible notes and many more. While many of these are excellent strategies, their timing and application to your specific business may be ill-advised. The wrong advice in a capital market transaction can be extremely costly, wrought with conflicts and accomplish more for the investment bankers than your investors.

In some cases, raising money costs a lot of money and sometimes it’s a BAD idea and doomed from the outset. When you’re paying an advisor they should be acting in your company’s best interest. Many times, these advisors / consultants are also investment banks or work closely with one. Thus, conflicts can arise. Conflicts may be allowed, but many times they’re not disclosed or worse the client isn’t even aware of who they’re dealing with.

The capital markets are a very diverse and involved arena and you should have an INDEPENDENT advocate and legal advisor. Regulations are VERY strict and can be confusing. Poor advice from a banker, broker-dealer, or underwriter can not only be devastating to your business but can subject you to securities laws violations.

Our legal team has experience with the regulations, logistics, and what a proper agreement should look like.

We can advise on the following and, many other, topics including:

  • Investor Relations Companies
  • OTC Markets (QX, QB, Pinks)
  • Regulation A
  • Regulation D
  • Private Securities Offerings
  • Consulting Agreements
  • Convertible Debentures
  • Market Making (15c-211)
  • 10b5-1 Plans
  • Compliance questions
  • IPO & Up-list

CONSULTATION AVAILABLE AT NO CHARGE

Contact Us

Free Consultation
(866) 975-8723

    Client Reviews

    We were told if David couldn’t understand these investments no one could. They were right.

    Our office brought David in to help with investment related problems associated with a large client. He was referred to us by another attorney in San Diego. We were told if David couldn’t understand these investments no one could. They were right. He met with us and took his time explaining the best way to handle. The client ended up hiring his firm also. We will be using him again.

    Roger

    West Legal Group PC
    5
    2020-10-28T15:12:11-04:00

    Roger

    Our office brought David in to help with investment related problems associated with a large client. He was referred to us by another attorney in San Diego. We were told if David couldn’t understand these investments no one could. They were right. He met with us and took his time explaining the best way to handle. The client ended up hiring his firm also. We will be using him again.

    David helped my family recover against the firm and they settled before court date.

    A broker had placed my mother's retirement savings in several high risk investments that lost value almost immediately. We weren't aware of these investments until after she passed away. David helped my family recover against the firm and they settled before court date.

    Dennis

    West Legal Group PC
    5
    2020-12-02T12:29:57-05:00

    Dennis

    A broker had placed my mother's retirement savings in several high risk investments that lost value almost immediately. We weren't aware of these investments until after she passed away. David helped my family recover against the firm and they settled before court date.

    Their work pays close attention to the importance of having everyone on the same page and having the client in charge and fully informed.

    David and Tim have been retained by me for one year to negotiate significant domestic and international settlements, and they have shown and used when doing so the requisite skills which have moved settlements toward favorable results. They are at their best when preparing and evaluating cases, when using appropriate tactics, when using countermeasures, when making first offers, when in direct examinations, cross examinations, and when in the examination of expert witnesses. Their writing is marked by being direct and precise, by blending precision with simplicity. David and Tim are particularly sensitive to complex moral situations, where no rule of thumb applies, no simple appeal to a single principle can assure a rational outcome. In such an instance they can be counted on to sort out the conflicting factors to determine what law, rule, or principle bears upon the situation, and what are the relative urgencies which govern a timely action. David and Tim command a family of intellectual traits and abilities which allows them to cope with the unexpected, grasp relations, and solve problems with speed and originality. Especially pronounced among their intellectual traits is their ability to create a congenial, professional relationship with their clients wherein written reports are delivered without fail on a designate date to a designated site to coincide with or be separate from timely discussions. Their work pays close attention to the importance of having everyone on the same page and having the client in charge and fully informed. I am a retired California State Senator who has hired and dealt with a number of skilled attorneys at law in the private and public sector. I have place David and Tim among the best of them and have in writing this statement measured them against this lot.

    Daniel

    West Legal Group PC
    5
    2020-12-02T12:29:31-05:00

    Daniel

    David and Tim have been retained by me for one year to negotiate significant domestic and international settlements, and they have shown and used when doing so the requisite skills which have moved settlements toward favorable results. They are at their best when preparing and evaluating cases, when using appropriate tactics, when using countermeasures, when making first offers, when in direct examinations, cross examinations, and when in the examination of expert witnesses. Their writing is marked by being direct and precise, by blending precision with simplicity. David and Tim are particularly sensitive to complex moral situations, where no rule of thumb applies, no simple appeal to a single principle can assure a rational outcome. In such an instance they can be counted on to sort out the conflicting factors to determine what law, rule, or principle bears upon the situation, and what are the relative urgencies which govern a timely action. David and Tim command a family of intellectual traits and abilities which allows them to cope with the unexpected, grasp relations, and solve problems with speed and originality. Especially pronounced among their intellectual traits is their ability to create a congenial, professional relationship with their clients wherein written reports are delivered without fail on a designate date to a designated site to coincide with or be separate from timely discussions. Their work pays close attention to the importance of having everyone on the same page and having the client in charge and fully informed. I am a retired California State Senator who has hired and dealt with a number of skilled attorneys at law in the private and public sector. I have place David and Tim among the best of them and have in writing this statement measured them against this lot.

    He took his time and really worked with us to make sure we were informed.

    David helped explain how I needed to create and start my company from formation to getting investors. He took his time and really worked with us to make sure we were informed. He also stressed we get it right on the first go around as changing important issues later could be costly.

    Lydia

    West Legal Group PC
    5
    2020-10-28T15:12:36-04:00

    Lydia

    David helped explain how I needed to create and start my company from formation to getting investors. He took his time and really worked with us to make sure we were informed. He also stressed we get it right on the first go around as changing important issues later could be costly.
    5
    4
    West Legal Group PC

    Offices

    1800 Century Park East, Suite 600
    Los Angeles, CA 90067

    1455 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Suite 400
    Washington, DC 20004

    Contact Us

    • Serving Clients Nationwide in Securities Arbitration

    • Free Consultation

    • Effective Case Management

    Fill out the contact form or call us at (866) 975-TRADE (8723) to schedule your free consultation.