Class-Action and Derivative Litigation Defense

• Lead counsel for publicly traded coffee producer and distributor in consumer class action alleging false “Made in the USA” branding
• Counsel for multiple issuers in class claims arising under Section 10B of the Securities Exchange Act and Rule 10B-5, with most claims successfully dismissed at the pleading stage
• Representation of issuers, officers, and directors in direct and derivative claims arising under Delaware, Nevada, and California law
• Representation of indemnified executive in enforcement of rights to indemnification and advancement, resulting in a complete victory in arbitration and payment of a substantial award

Financial Services and Capital Markets

• Representation of ratings agencies in coordinated claims brought by the Department of Justice and 17 state Attorneys-General related to ratings for commercial and residential mortgage-backed securities
• Represented hedge fund founder in trial of direct and derivative claims for fraud, breach of contract, and breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing brought against global cryptocurrency hedge fund
• Representation of venture capital fund in action to enforce an asset purchase agreement involving shares of an early-stage artificial intelligence venture
• Representation of hedge fund in actions to enforce non-compete agreements and contractual obligations with former chief investment officer, and to enforce contractual obligations on large institutional investors

Commercial Litigation

• Representation of medical practice in coordinated actions against former shareholder for breach of contract and fraud, resulting in complete victory and extensive damages
• Representation of Chinese manufacturer in post-trial motions and appeal of claims to the Ninth Circuit, resulting in amended judgment and substantially reduced settlement value
• Representation of medical practice in action to enforce terms of settlement agreement and resulting appeal
• Representation of software manufacturer in earnout litigation against former employees and owners of an acquired corporation, with claims resolved favorably before the filing of summary judgment
• Representation of retail seafood markets in litigation to enforce lease agreements and forestall major redevelopment of leased property in Washington, DC, resulting in favorable resolution and substantial settlement payments to leaseholders
• Representation of real estate investor group in litigation to recover assets purloined by a business partner, resulting in complete victory in arbitration and resulting damages and fees
• Representation of educational certification agency in successful motion to enforce arbitration, resulting in favorable resolution of all claims

SEC and FINRA Enforcement

• Representation of asset management division of national bank in investigation of the sale of inverse-leveraged exchange traded funds by retail brokers
• Representation of senior executive of investment bank in investigation of the use of proprietary investment products in high-net-worth managed accounts
• Representation of hedge fund in investigation into the adequacy of certain filings made under Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
• Representation of investment bank in investigation of misrepresentations to consumers regarding the pricing of commercial and residential mortgage-backed securities
• Representation of international retailer in investigation of alleged misrepresentations made in public statements following an industrial incident in Bangladesh

White Collar Criminal Defense and Reputational Risk Events

• Lead counsel for senior executive of German automotive manufacturer in Department of Justice investigation into the falsification of diesel emission test results, resulting in favorable determination by the Department of Justice, the SEC, and the Stuttgart Staatsanwaltschaft
• Representation of City of Charlottesville, Virginia in investigation of law enforcement response to “Unite the Right” free speech protest events in July and August of 2017
• Representation of audit committee of international retailer in global investigation of alleged violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
• Representation of publicly traded energy company in complex bribery investigation related to state energy subsidies
• Representation of Cayman Islands FIFA executive in investigation into alleged fraud and bribery in international soccer
• Representation of investment bank into allegations of bribery and corruption involving the hiring and retention of the adult children of foreign public officials
• Representation of banks and financial institutions in Pakistan, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia in investigations of anti-money laundering (AML) and Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) compliance violations by OFAC, the Department of the Treasury, and the New York Department of Financial Services
• Representation of automotive retail chain in IRS investigation of tax fraud by affiliated entity
• Counsel for the Department of Justice-appointed monitor in global settlement with Japanese auto manufacturer, involving false statements about vehicle safety
• Representation of publicly traded consulting company In False Claims Act investigation, where the company served as the independent review organization for a skilled nursing facility provider

*Matters handled prior to joining O’Melveny