Shareholder and derivative litigation

We work closely with companies and their boards of directors to defend them in high-stakes U.S. federal and state lawsuits, including derivative suits and class actions. As charges by shareholders against corporations rise across the country, we provide counsel to board directors and committees, corporate officers and financial advisers to ensure favorable outcomes. We bring deep bench strength and experience to assist with the most formidable concerns, from crisis management and alleged fraud to regulatory violations and M&A challenges.

Boards of directors may come under attack when unexpected decisions, events, downturns or reports come to light. When litigation is imminent, we provide urgent, board-level counsel for allegations concerning initial public offerings, mergers and acquisitions, breach of fiduciary duty, insider trading, options backdating, short selling, accounting improprieties, channel stuffing, restatements, FCP or FCPA violation, compensation matters and contract negotiations. We also counsel special litigation committees and audit committees during shareholder-driven investigations.

Our litigators also defend class action claims brought under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Securities Act of 1933. When mergers and acquisitions are challenged through a class action or derivative suit, we have the experience to defend the company being acquired or the acquiring company, to ensure the transaction closes. No matter the action filed, we routinely seek and gain dismissal of all claims but are prepared to vigorously defend our clients and negotiate settlements if necessary.