Complex securities and business litigation in federal and state court and arbitral forums.

While running my own firm for over there years, matters that I handled included: *Represented majority shareholder of foreign company in federal court concerning minority shareholders' claims of breach of fiduciary duty under Delaware law arising out of conversion of preferred shares to common shares and subsequent distribution of proceeds from $39M merger; included injunctive relief proceedings and interlocutory appeal to the Ninth Circuit. *Represented Nike, Inc., in connection with its rights as a class member in antitrust litigation.*Represented defendant nationwide merchant funder in class action lawsuit claiming that its purchases of future credit card receivables were disguised loans subject to usury laws. *Represented medical technology company in lawsuit against its publicly traded predecessor's founders and former executives involving their breach of non-disparagement and non-interference agreements that caused predecessor to lose access to capital and ultimately fail. Prevailed at trial.*Represented partner of large Japanese conglomerate in federal court lawsuit seeking sums owed client arising out of merger and acquisition activity between conglomerate and another company that was facilitated by client.*Represented successor in interest to claims of bankrupt formerly publicly traded company in action alleging RICO and breach of fiduciary duty claims against former officers, directors, and advisors; includes Anti-SLAPP motion practice at trial court and on appeal.*Represented Forbes 400 individual in SEC insider trading investigation; matter dropped by SEC with no action against client. *Represented marketing/PR firm in corporate investigation concerning allegations of improper bidding practices.*Represented publicly traded company in shareholder class action lawsuit challenging client's proposed acquisition of another publicly traded company (local counsel).

Matters I handled, as lead or co-lead counsel, while at Solomon Ward included: *Represented a publicly traded company in two FINRA arbitration proceedings concerning nearly $100 million in frozen auction rate securities. Both proceedings settled favorably during their respective hearings. *Represented a New York investment banker and broker-dealer in shareholder derivative action brought on behalf of then-publicly traded company which, following its bankruptcy, converted to a direct action by bankruptcy trustee.*Represented high-profile individual in SEC insider trading investigation.*Represented multiple registered representatives and broker-dealers in FINRA inquiries and investigations.*Represented nationwide merchant funder in class action lawsuit claiming that its purchases of future credit card receivables were disguised loans subject to usury laws.*Represented publicly traded company in consumer class action under California Business and Professions Code section 17200 arising out of allegedly misleading designation of origin of consumer product.*Represented high net-worth investors in multi-million dollar FINRA arbitration arising out of flawed options trading strategy.*Represented the national association of franchisees of major fast food franchise in two separate class action lawsuits concerning franchisee rights under their franchise agreements.*Represented partner of large Japanese conglomerate in lawsuit seeking sums owed client arising out of merger and acquisition activity between conglomerate and another company that was facilitated by client.*Represented successor in interest to claims of bankrupt formerly publicly traded company in action alleging RICO and breach of fiduciary duty claims against former officers, directors, and advisors.*Represented issuer of securities in state court action brought by investor alleging claims of fraud and failure to qualify under the California securities laws.

At DLA Piper and its predecessor Gray Cary Ware & Freidenrich, I, among other things:*Represented numerous defendant public companies and their officers and directors in federal securities fraud class actions under both the '33 and '34 Acts, in trial courts and courts of appeal; also represented several plaintiff public and private companies in '34 Act securities fraud claims arising out of their acquisitions of other companies.*Represented numerous public companies and their officers and directors in shareholder derivative actions, often arising out of allegations in parallel federal securities fraud actions, in trial courts and courts of appeal. *Represented public companies and directors/officers in SEC regulatory investigations and related proceedings, including in civil litigation against the SEC. *Represented numerous broker/dealers and their representatives, as well as investors, in FINRA arbitration proceedings. *Represented numerous public and private companies in defending class action, private attorney general, and individual claims arising under California Business and Professions Code section 17200 and the California Consumer Legal Remedies Act and analogous laws of other states, including in coordinated statewide proceedings and federal Multi-District Litigation proceedings, as well as in multiple arbitral forums.*Represented numerous public and private companies in consumer class actions concerning, among other various topics, franchise claims, claims of deception, claims involving allegedly excessive late fees, insurance-related claims, tobacco claims, and the like.*Represented public and private companies and individuals in a wide array of contract and business tort litigation, both as defendants and plaintiffs, including interference, royalty, finder's fee, unfair competition, indemnity, partnership disputes and dissolutions, franchise disputes, etc.