JAMES M GAMBACCINI & STRATEGIC FINANCIAL Lawsuit

Soreide Law Group has filed a FINRA arbitration on behalf of our client (Claimant) against:

THE STRATEGIC FINANCIAL ALLIANCE, INC., and their former registered representative,

JAMES MICHAEL GAMBACCINI (JAMES M GAMBACCINI) (Respondents).

The claims described below are allegations contained in the pending FINRA arbitration and have not been proven or adjudicated. The Respondents may deny the allegations and assert defenses.

The lawsuit states that on or about June of 2019, the Claimant purchased syndicated conservation-easement investments, including interests in Matagorda Cove Holdings, LLC and Copano Cove Holdings, LLC, allegedly based upon the recommendations and representations of JAMES M GAMBACCINI, while he was a registered representative with STRATEGIC FINANCIAL of Reston, Virginia. According to FINRA's BrokerCheck, Gambaccini is currently registered as a broker with REPUBLIC CAPITAL GROUP of Delray Beach, Florida since 5/12/2026, and as a financial advisor with ACORN FINANCIAL ADVISORY SERVICES, INC. of Reston, Virginia, since 9/26/2003.

The lawsuit states that the Claimant purchased a total of $122,346 of the conservation easements on or about June of 2019. Allegedly, JAMES M GAMBACCINI recommended and sold the EcoVest-sponsored investments to the Claimant in his capacity as a registered representative of STRATEGIC FINANCIAL and received, or expected to receive, transaction-based selling compensation. The investments were private-placement securities, not assets managed in an Acorn investment-advisory account for an asset-based advisory fee.

EcoVest Capital, Inc. and its affiliates sponsored, organized, promoted, and managed syndicated conservation-easement programs, including the type of investments recommended to the Claimant. The programs were structured to acquire or control real property, sell interests in pass-through entities to investors, donate conservation easements, and allocate the resulting charitable-contribution deductions to the investors.  Years before the Claimant's June 2019 purchases, federal tax authorities had publicly identified substantial risks associated with syndicated conservation-easement transactions.

The Claimant seeks damages of $400,000.00, together with costs. The lawsuit is alleging negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, and negligent supervision. These are allegations only, and no FINRA arbitration panel has made a determination regarding liability or damages.

According to FINRA’s BrokerCheck, available to the public on FINRA’s website, JAMES M GAMBACCINI has 23 years of experience in the securities industry and has been listed with 7 firms.

To discuss this article or any other securities issues, contact Soreide Law Group and speak to an experienced securities lawyer at no cost:  888-760-6552.

Soreide Law Group represents our clients nationwide before FINRA on a contingency fee basis.

Disclaimer: The allegations described above are taken from a pending FINRA arbitration claim filed on behalf of Soreide Law Group's client. They are allegations and have not been proven. The Respondents are entitled to contest the allegations and present defenses. Nothing in this article should be interpreted as a finding by FINRA, a court, or any other adjudicatory body that any person or entity violated the law or FINRA rules.