Securities and Transactional Litigation

Represented a corporate officer in defense of a putative class action alleging securities fraud. Obtained dismissal of claims.

Represented independent trustees in connection with litigation pursuant to Section 36(b) of the Investment Company Act of 1940. The litigation resulted in a Supreme Court decision mandating that deference be afforded to a board decision to approve an advisory agreement under circumstances in which the board was well informed and followed a robust process. 

Defended a closed-end mutual fund and its independent directors in a putative class action alleging claims for breach of fiduciary duty. Removed the case to federal court and obtained dismissal pursuant to the Securities Litigation Uniform Standards Act. The decision was affirmed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, and cert. was denied by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Represented the board of directors of a closed-end mutual fund in connection with their response to a shareholder derivative demand.

Defended directors in putative shareholder derivative litigation alleging claims for breach of fiduciary duty based upon the supposed "Ponzi-like" nature of the enterprise.

Defended a real estate investment trust and independent trustees in a putative consolidated class action alleging claims for securities fraud under federal and state law stemming from purported "Ponzi-like" conduct.

Defended a mutual fund investment adviser in litigation pursuant to Section 36(b) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, in which plaintiff challenged the adviser's "manager of managers" business model. Obtained summary judgment in favor of the adviser.

Defended a mutual fund investment adviser in "excessive fee" litigation pursuant to Section 36(b) of the Investment Company Act of 1940.

Represented a corporation and corporate officers in defense of an action seeking to enjoin a proposed merger, in which the plaintiff alleged that the defendants had breached fiduciary duties to shareholders in connection with the negotiation of the merger agreement. 

Defended a corporation based in China in a putative class action alleging securities fraud claims based upon purported failure to disclose asserted related-party transactions, and putative derivative litigation alleging claims for breach of fiduciary duty based upon the same conduct.