In the securities industry, the majority of all employment disputes are resolved through binding arbitration. This mandatory arbitration system is managed through a unique industry forum under the self-regulatory entity Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). When disputes arise between brokers and investors, FINRA administers the largest forum specifically designed to resolve securities-related disputes between and among investors, securities firms and individual brokers. In total, in FINRA there were 3,435 arbitrations filed in 2015, 3,822 in 2014, 3,714 in 2013 and 4,299 in 2012. Most of the arbitrations handled by FINRA’s Dispute Resolution arbitration process - roughly 60% to 70% of the cases filed - are disputes between customers and the brokers and securities firms that handle their investments.

Although customer disputes reflect the majority of arbitrations filed at FINRA, a substantial number of “intra-industry” disputes are filed each year. As reported by FINRA, intra-industry FINRA arbitration filings can be broken down as follows...