Attorney Sara E. Hanley

Sara Hanley focuses her practice on representing investors nationwide who have lost their savings and retirement funds as a result of their brokerage accounts being mishandled. Attorney Hanley is the founder of Hanley Law which focuses exclusively on representing investors in claims against their brokers, broker dealers, investment advisors, financial advisors and insurance companies. Ms. Hanley is experienced in providing representation for investors who have been the victims of financial fraud, negligence and unsuitable investments. Attorney Hanley has experience in prosecuting claims against the major Wall Street brokerage firms.

Ms. Hanley has litigated several national securities related class action lawsuits. Recently, Ms. Hanley represented a group of foreign investors in an action against Raymond James which arose from the mismanagement and transfer of funds and margin loans among accounts resulting in a class action settlement of $150 million dollars. Ms. Hanley represented class members in the United States District Court Southern District of Florida in a class action against Newbridge Securities which resulted in a substantial settlement. Ms. Hanley also represented national class members in securities class action litigation against Raymond James before the United States District Court Southern District of Florida which resulted in a $15 million dollar class action settlement. Attorney Hanley represented a group of investors in a professional negligence claim that settled for $8 million dollars. Ms. Hanley has represented thousands of investors in securities arbitration and litigation. Attorney Hanley is duly licensed to practice law in both Florida and North Carolina and represents clients in FINRA arbitrations nationwide.

Ms. Hanley graduated with honors from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill and attended law school at Nova Southeastern University where she received an academic scholarship and graduated Magna Cum Laude. Ms. Hanley is a member of the Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association (“PIABA”) where she served as the 2020 Editor-in-Chief of the national PIABA Bar Journal. Ms. Hanley also serves as an arbitrator for the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”). Ms. Hanley is admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Southern and Middle Districts of Florida, the United States District Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Attorney Hanley has been featured in various publications including Bloomberg Business, Financial and Economic News, Investment News, Lawyers Weekly and various law journals. Throughout her legal career Ms. Hanley has dedicated numerous hours to the community by working on both political campaigns, as well as, providing legal services to non-profit organizations.

Practice Focus

• Securities Arbitrations before the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”)
• Securities Class Actions
• Commodities Arbitrations before the National Futures Association (“NFA”)

Practice Areas

• Securities Arbitration and Litigation
• Securities Class Actions
• Commodities Arbitration and Litigation

Publications & Speaking Engagements

• Editor-in-Chief PIABA Bar Journal 2020
• Managing Editor PIABA Bar Journal 2019
• Cases and Materials PIABA Bar Journal 2018
• Bloomberg- Business, Financial and Economic News: John Thomas Draws Scrutiny
• Investment News: VA Surrenders Jump After Hartford Bowed Out
• North Carolina Lawyers Weekly: Due Diligence Paves the Way for Trust with Cloud Computing
• North Carolina Lawyers Weekly: Special Focus- Management & Technology
• Law Journal Newsletter: The Place to Network
• AVVO Client Choice for Investment Fraud Attorney

Education

• Nova Southeastern University, Shephard Broad College of Law, Juris Doctorate, Magna Cum Laude, 2007
• University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Bachelor of Science, Dean’s List, 2004

Bar Admissions:

• U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, 2021
• Florida, 2013
• North Carolina, 2007
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit, 2016
• U.S. District Court of Appeals, Middle District of Florida, 2015
• U.S. District Court of Appeals, Southern District of Florida, 2013

Professional Associations and Memberships:

• Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association
• Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Arbitrator
• National Futures Association Arbitrator
• Collier County Bar Association
• Collier County Women’s Bar Association
• Florida Association of Women Lawyers