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

Morgan Stanley Seeks to Stop Two Departing Advisors from Transferring Inherited Accounts

Posted on May 9th, 2022 at 2:59 PM
Morgan Stanley Seeks to Stop Two Departing Advisors from Transferring Inherited Accounts

From the Desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law:

Morgan Stanley is seeking a temporary restraining order (TRO) in an effort to block two of its former New-Jersey based advisors from soliciting clients whom they inherited via the firm’s Former Advisor Program (FAP). 

Joseph Hutchinson and Robert Gibbs allegedly violated their employment agreements by misappropriating confidential client information because of their success in transitioning clients inherited from a retired advisor, according to Morgan Stanley. Hutchinson and Gibbs, who recently joined RiversEdge Wealth partners, have transferred nearly $20 million of the $175 million book they inherited from the former advisor, Leo Russomanno. According to Morgan Stanley, Hutchinson and Gibbs agreed to a one-year solicitation ban in the event they were to depart the firm. 

Morgan Stanley sent demand letters to each advisor after their departure on April 19 prior to filing its lawsuit, but each denied misappropriating the firm’s confidential client information or soliciting the clients. According to the complaint, the $175 million in assets constituted nearly 85% of the advisors’ total client book. Hutchinson and Gibbs have been “depriving” Russomanno, who retired in 2019, of his retirement income, according to Morgan Stanley. 

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

 
 

Tags: eccleston law, morgan stanley, tro

Return to Archive

TESTIMONIALS

Previous
Next
Quotes Bigger

I just received this letter from the CFP Board. Thank you, Thank you, THANK YOU!

David Y

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

1786636784 Law
August 13, 2026
FINRA Orders Centaurus Financial to Pay $1.1 Million Over Variable Annuity Supervision Failures

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has ordered Centaurus Financial Inc.

1786553985 Law
August 12, 2026
Proposed FINRA Enforcement Reforms Draw Mixed Reactions From Industry Participants

A new report recommending changes to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority's (FINRA) enforcement program has generated mixed reactions from investor advocates, securities attorneys and industry professionals, according to ThinkAdvisor.

1786394861 Law
August 10, 2026
FINRA Fines RBC Capital Markets $275,000 Over Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Deficiencies

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has censured and fined RBC Capital Markets $275,000 after determining that the firm failed to establish and implement reasonable anti-money laundering (AML) policies and procedures.