Securities, M&A, and Corporate Governance Litigation

• CEO of Matterport, Inc. (Delaware Supreme Court) – Successfully represented the former CEO in obtaining a unanimous affirmance of a nearly US$80 million judgment arising from improper trading restrictions imposed on his stock. The Court also granted the cross-appeal regarding post-judgment interest. Matterport v. Brown, 2025 WL 1166116 (Del. 2025). Recognized in The American Lawyer's Litigator of the Week (April 25, 2025).*
• Global Cryptocurrency Exchange (US$32B MDL) – Represented one of the world's largest cryptocurrency and digital asset exchanges in consolidated multi-district litigation alleging federal securities fraud and seeking approximately US$32 billion in damages, presenting cutting-edge issues concerning the application of federal securities laws to digital asset platforms.*
• Publicly Traded Social Technology Company (US$2B Securities Class Action) – Successfully obtained dismissal at the pleading stage of a nearly US$2 billion securities fraud class action brought under Section 10(b) and Rule 10b-5 of the Exchange Act, arising from a near 20% stock drop following changes to a third-party operating platform.*
• Digital Asset Securities Class Action (High-Profile Individual Defendant) – Successfully represented Caitlyn Jenner and her manager in securing complete dismissal at the pleading stage of a nine-count federal securities class action alleging violations of the Securities Act and Exchange Act arising from significant digital asset transactions. Recognized in The American Lawyer's Litigator of the Week (May 16, 2025).*
• Cantor Fitzgerald (US$1.6B SPAC Transaction with View, Inc.) – Defended financial institutions and related officers and directors in federal securities litigation arising from a SPAC merger and subsequent financial restatement. After two rounds of motion-to-dismiss briefing and extensive oral argument, the court dismissed all claims with prejudice. Recognized in The American Lawyer's Litigator of the Week (April 12, 2024).*
• Holicity / Astra Space (US$2.1B SPAC Transaction) – Defended officers and directors in parallel federal securities and Delaware fiduciary duty litigation challenging a de-SPAC merger, securing dismissal with prejudice of the securities action and resolution of related derivative claims.*
• International ICC Arbitration (Delaware Law) – Successfully represented a digital technology company in a high-stakes international arbitration before the International Chamber of Commerce arising under Delaware law and involving a complex cross-border "busted-deal" dispute. Following a multi-day evidentiary hearing, the tribunal issued a complete defense award.*
• Public Technology Company (Caremark Litigation) – Secured dismissal of derivative claims alleging Caremark breaches of fiduciary duty in Delaware.*
• Financial Institutions Defense – Represented Barclays, Merrill Lynch, J.P. Morgan, Citigroup, UBS and Wells Fargo in Securities Act class action litigation alleging Sections 11 and 12 violations.*

White Collar Defense and SEC Enforcement Actions

• Parallel Criminal and SEC Insider Trading Proceedings – Defended the CEO of a publicly traded corporation in parallel criminal and SEC enforcement actions alleging insider trading and tender offer fraud. Successfully tried two federal jury trials (10-week and 6-week trials), resulting in dismissal of all charges and reversal of co-defendant convictions.*
• Congressional Investigation (Publicly Traded Technology Company) – Led the response for a publicly traded technology company to a bipartisan congressional investigation relating to online financial and romance scams, advising senior management on investigative strategy and regulatory coordination while directing engagement with congressional staff.*
• Audit Committee & Independent Director Representations – Led numerous internal investigations for the audit committee of a publicly traded financial institution concerning allegations of fraud, financial misreporting, and public disclosure issues, including directing the company's response to a related SEC investigation. Also represented the audit committee of a publicly traded multinational, technology-focused defense, intelligence, and infrastructure engineering company in connection with allegations of accounting improprieties and financial misstatements in the company's public disclosures.*
• SEC Enforcement Defense (Tender Offer Fraud) – Represented an executive in an SEC enforcement action alleging violations of Sections 10(b) and 14(e) of the Exchange Act; summary judgment briefing resulted in the most favorable resolution among multiple defendants.*
• Public Corruption Investigation (Los Angeles DWP) – Represented an executive in connection with the U.S. Department of Justice's investigation into alleged corruption involving the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, and in a parallel State Bar of California disciplinary investigation arising from the same underlying events.*
• Largest Criminal Prosecution in Tulare County History – Leading the defense in a multi-agency criminal prosecution alleging violations of the California Government and Penal Codes; secured significant narrowing of charges following extensive motion practice and dismissal of the most serious money laundering charge under Section 995.*
• Digital Asset Enforcement Matters (The Digital Chamber) – Represented clients and amici in significant SEC enforcement actions involving cryptocurrency and digital asset regulation.*
• Internal Investigations & Government Subpoenas – Led sensitive internal investigations and advised companies and executives responding to subpoenas and inquiries from the Department of Justice, the SEC, and other state and federal authorities.*

Appellate Litigation & Other Highlights

• Delaware Supreme Court Advocacy – Led appeal and cross-appeal before the Delaware Supreme Court involving more than US$100 million in controversy and complex issues of fiduciary duty, stockholder rights, and damages under Delaware law.*
• California Supreme Court Appeal – Represented a leading retail and financing company in a California Supreme Court appeal arising from a civil enforcement action brought by the California Attorney General under the Unfair Competition Law.*
• California Court of Appeal (Anti-SLAPP & Appellate Advocacy) – Representing an international religious organization in multiple appeals involving anti-SLAPP rulings and complex procedural and evidentiary issues, including challenges arising from the submission of fabricated or non-existent legal authorities in briefing.*
• Ninth Circuit Securities Appeal – Led an interlocutory appeal addressing the interplay between Article III standing and loss causation under the Exchange Act in a securities fraud class action.*
• Federal Criminal Appeal – Represented a corporate executive in a Ninth Circuit appeal arising from a federal insider trading prosecution involving Rule 404(b) evidentiary issues.*
• Criminal Writ Petition (Conflict of Interest Statutes) – Filed a petition for writ relief in a criminal proceeding challenging the trial court's failure to dismiss an indictment based on an erroneous interpretation of California Government Code conflict-of-interest provisions, raising significant statutory construction and legislative history issues.*
• Attorney Work Product Protection – Successfully obtained writ relief in the California Court of Appeal protecting attorney work product from compelled disclosure.*
• Federal Jury Trial (Section 1983) – Served as lead counsel in a federal Section 1983 jury trial alleging unconstitutional search and seizure, securing key pretrial rulings permitting punitive damages instructions.*

* Prior to joining White & Case