Tr?id=566623520170033&ev=PageView&noscript=1

Arbitrators Clear Former Merrill Advisor Of Former Partner’s Misconduct

Posted on April 28th, 2022 at 1:23 PM
Arbitrators Clear Former Merrill Advisor Of Former Partner’s Misconduct

From the Desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law:

A former Kentucky-based Merrill advisor will have his record cleared of an investor complaint pertaining to the conduct of his former partner who was convicted of theft, according to a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration award. 

Patrick Strehl, who now works at Stifel, Nicolaus & Co. in Louisville, was “not involved in the alleged embezzlement of funds” from an investor’s account, according to the arbitrators who authorized the expungement. Strehl’s former partner, Christopher Hibbard, received an eight-year prison sentence for embezzling funds from several client accounts. 

According to federal prosecutors, Hibbard embezzled at least $4.2 million between 2007 and 2017. The investor initially filed the claim in 2019 alleging breach of contract and fiduciary duty as well as constructive fraud while seeking $2.5 million in damages. According to BrokerCheck, Merrill agreed to a settlement with the investor for $250,000. 

Eccleston Law LLC represents investors and financial advisors nationwide in securities, employment, regulatory and disciplinary matters.

 
 

Tags: eccleston law, finra, merrill lynch

Return to Archive

TESTIMONIALS

Previous
Next
Quotes Bigger

I have the best legal firm in the country to defend me. Awesome job!

Cindy C.

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

1792083058 Law
October 15, 2026
SEC Warns Firms to Improve Private Asset Valuation and Disclosures

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is pressing financial firms to take greater care when valuing private assets as liquidity tightens and investor redemption requests increase, according to AdvisorHub.

1791996515 Law
October 14, 2026
FINRA Study Finds Advanced Investment Knowledge Does Not Eliminate Fraud Risk

Research using the FINRA Investor Education Foundation's 2024 National Financial Capability Study found that fewer than one in five investors with non-retirement investments demonstrate advanced investment literacy.

1791918358 Law
October 13, 2026
LPL Financial Faces Investor Claims Tied to Former Broker's Outside Activities

LPL Financial faces at least nine pending investor claims involving former El Paso, Texas broker Michael C.