About HLBS Law

Owen Harnett manages HLBS Law full-time associates and no less than a dozen Of Counsel associates actively entrenched in litigation that span the breadth of the securities industry. He has participated in upwards of a thousand matters for individual advisors, brokerage/RIA firms, and participants in domestic debt and equity capital markets – situated among thirty-six states and U.S. Territories.

Mr. Harnett has developed an unparalleled level of awareness of the predominant regulatory apparatuses that predominate the U.S. securities industry. Through his unrelenting pursuit of that which benefits his clients, Mr. Harnett has established significant notoriety as not only a formidable adversary, but as an unassuming operator that strikes with overwhelming force and surgical precision.

Hailing from Reno, Nevada and now living in Charlotte, NC, he enjoys competitive athletics and exploring different cultures through traveling with his fiancé.

Mike Bessette is a Managing Attorney of the firm. Mike’s practice focuses on representing clients in all aspects of complex litigation, arbitration, and alternative dispute resolution in the securities industry. Mike’s experience includes representing clients in securities litigation, employment disputes, U5 defamation claims, regulatory investigations, consumer litigation, appellate issues, and expungement matters.

With more than a decade of experience handling complex litigation and criminal matters, and having tried over 100 arbitrations and jury or bench trials to judgment, Mike’s recent achievements include an award for damages granted to an advisor team in a defamation suit against their former broker-dealer, successfully defending an investment adviser firm against a customer resulting in a finding of zero liability or damages awarded, overturning multiple decisions by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority to deny advisors access to its arbitration forum after appealing to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and successfully expunging hundreds of disclosures from advisors’ records. Mike is always willing to provide zealous advocacy and fight for his clients to the end.

Chelsea has significant experience representing clients in different practice areas, including transactional business law, commercial real estate, low-income housing and historic rehabilitation tax credits, family law, and criminal defense. Her background in litigation and transactional law gives her unique experience to better serve clients in all facets of their representation.

At HLBS, Chelsea’s practice focuses on representing advisor clients in all forms of regulatory defense in the financial industry, including litigation and arbitration related to the resolution and expungement of customer dispute disclosures, employment termination disclosures, criminal disclosures, and state regulatory disclosures. Her representation typically involves state and federal court actions, negotiations with regulatory bodies, including FINRA and state securities departments, and arbitration hearings. She also represents certain investor clients in negotiations and arbitrations regarding customer disputes, as well as certain civil litigation clients.

Chelsea is from a one-stoplight town in South Carolina and now lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, with her two rescue cats. She enjoys traveling, spending time with her niece, and rooting for the Cleveland Browns on Sundays. She volunteers as an attorney mentor for the Phi Delta Phi honors legal fraternity, is a volunteer advocate for the Animal Legal Defense Fund, and is a member of several young professionals organizations in the Charlotte area. In 2019, Chelsea was honored by NC Lawyers Weekly with the distinguished Rising Star Award and was nominated for Real Estate Forum’s 50 Under 40 list.

Megan is an Associate Attorney at HLBS who specializes in litigation. In her career, Megan has worked in several legal areas that have provided her with a diverse background that she applies to her work in customer disputes and U5 expungement cases.

Megan’s interest in law began while studying history and political science at Appalachian State University. While attending law school at Wake Forest, Megan was the recipient of the Law Dean’s Scholarship, received a CALI Excellence for the Future Award, and won Best Team Draft in the 2016 Wake Forest Transactional Law Competition. Megan was also a staff member of the Wake Forest Journal of Business and Intellectual Property Law.

Megan was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and was raised in Charlotte, North Carolina. She enjoys spending her days adventuring in the mountains with her husband and Australian Shepherd.

As an Associate Attorney at HLBS, Will works on a variety of matters ranging from customer dispute and U5 expungement cases, criminal expungements, arbitration award confirmations, and various other general civil litigation matters. Will has experience representing clients across the country in state court, arbitration in both FINRA’s forum and in JAMS, administrative proceedings in front of the SEC, and even Federal appellate court work.

Prior to joining HLBS, Will grew his legal skill set by working in both public service and private practice sectors. Starting his legal career at the nonprofit legal services organization Volunteer Lawyers Project in Boston, Massachusetts, Will worked to provide much-needed legal assistance to low-income individuals. In doing so, Will gained a desire to fight on the side of David against the “Goliaths” of the legal world, and to fight for those that need help the most. Will has previous experience as a family law attorney, focusing on the motion practice and strategy of divorce, parenting, and guardianship cases.

A New Hampshire native, Will is still living in the Granite State. Will enjoys traveling, is an avid reader of sci-fi and fantasy novels, an amateur buff of all things J.R.R. Tolkien, and holds many hobbies including playing guitar, skiing, soccer, and walking his St. Bernard, Tormund.

Hannah is a dedicated associate attorney at HLBS Law, joining the team after five years of practicing domestic law in North Carolina. Her experience in mediation, arbitrations, and litigation has honed her skills in negotiation, conflict resolution, and courtroom advocacy. This foundation in domestic law provides Hannah with a unique perspective, allowing her to understand personal aspects of legal challenges and craft tailored solutions for clients. Her ability to navigate high-stress situations and build client rapport makes her an invaluable asset to the team.

Hannah is proud to call Winston-Salem, North Carolina home. As a double alumna of Wake Forest University (Go Deacs!), she maintains strong ties to the local community and is committed to serving its residents.

Outside of her legal practice, Hannah enjoys enriching her life through various pursuits. She is an avid reader, always seeking to expand her knowledge. Hannah also has a passion for collecting antiques, and appreciating the history and craftsmanship of bygone eras. In her free time, she cherishes moments spent with friends, balancing her professional life with strong personal connections.

Jenny has experience in business management, team building, and strategic implementation of systems and processes tailored to the needs of each company. She is a detail-oriented professional who enjoys providing structure and organizational procedures to the firm in order to thrive in the industry.

Jenny establishes relationships with all levels of the firm while keeping high standards of corporate compliance. As a bilingual employee, she is able to open an additional line of communication between clients, vendors, and the business to get projects done. Working at HLBS, Jenny is very appreciative of the team-oriented culture and effective communication among her peers.

Originally from Colombia, Jenny is an avid traveler who is always looking for the next adventure. She is also an animal lover and bookworm. She enjoys spending time with family and friends while being an active member of her community.

Yajaira’s education and experience have led her to fit in perfectly at HLBS Law as the Billing Specialist. She achieved her B.S. degree in accounting from Rider University in New Jersey. She loves working for HLBS because she thrives in an environment conducive to teamwork.

Her experience in accounts payable and accounts receivable set her up for success here at HLBS Law. She is an essential member of the team and has many responsibilities in managing all bills and payments.

In her free time, Yajaira loves to watch movies and spend time with her family

Colby brings a diverse background in finance, the banking industry, and real estate to HLBS Law. She graduated from Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas, with a B.S. in Business Administration. As the Executive Assistant for HLBS Law, Colby’s goal is to not only meet your expectations but to exceed them.

Growing up in a small town in central Florida, Colby feels fortunate to have landed in Weatherford, Texas, which has a small-town feel but with all the big city amenities. In her spare time, Colby enjoys spending time with family, traveling, volunteering at the Pythian Home in Weatherford, attending rodeos, riding horses, fishing, and, of course, shopping!

Chloe graduated from Swarthmore College with a B.A. in English Literature and Education. After working in early childhood education for several years, she obtained her Paralegal Certificate from the University of Texas at Austin. Chloe previously worked as an in-house paralegal for a retail consulting firm and has a background in civil litigation. In her free time, she enjoys kayaking and spending time at the beach.

Megan graduated from Colorado State University Pueblo with a B.S. in Political Science. She has several years of experience assisting with FINRA arbitration. Megan lives in southern Colorado where she was born and raised. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, reading, and spending time with her husband and pets.