J.P. Morgan Loses TRO Bid Against Former Advisor

Posted on March 14th, 2022 at 1:28 PM
J.P. Morgan Loses TRO Bid Against Former Advisor

From the Desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law:

A New Jersey federal court has denied J.P. Morgan’s request for a temporary restraining order (TRO) against an advisor who joined Wells Fargo in February 2022.


However, the legal battle may persist based on the judge’s “without prejudice” ruling, which potentially presents J.P. Morgan with an opportunity to reopen the case. J.P. Morgan sought a TRO and an injunction against Taulant Cela, who spent nine years with the firm in an effort to prevent him from soliciting his former clients. J.P. Morgan additionally filed a parallel arbitration case with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) against Cela, prompting the federal court to issue an order resolving the arbitration.


J.P. Morgan alleged that Cela violated a one-year non-solicitation provision in his employment contract by contacting his former clients. Cela managed more than $122 million for 412 clients prior to joining Wells Fargo, according to J.P. Morgan’s complaint. J.P. Morgan further alleged that Cela had convinced at least five clients to move nearly $8.5 million in assets to Wells Fargo.


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

 
 

Tags: eccleston law, jp morgan, finra

Return to Archive

TESTIMONIALS

Previous
Next

This was the best of all possible outcomes and I cannot thank you and the team enough.

Michael S.

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

January 30, 2026
FINRA Arbitration Panel Orders J.P. Morgan to Amend Form U-5, Flags Potential Pattern of Conduct

A Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration panel recently issued an unusually detailed decision in a dispute between J.P. Morgan Securities and former advisor Joshua David Sappi Biering, shedding rare light on how a firm may deploy - and sometimes abuse - the Form U-5 during advisor departures.

January 29, 2026
OFAC Targets Individual Trustee, Sending a Clear Warning to Fiduciaries and Family Offices

In a rare move, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) penalized a former U.S. government official, underscoring that professional gatekeepers can face personal liability for sanctions violations tied to trust administration.

January 28, 2026
FINRA Advances Overhaul of Outside Business Activity Rules to the SEC

FINRA formally has advanced its proposed overhaul of outside business activity (OBA) regulations to the Securities and Exchange Commission.