Four Decades for Justice
Cravath’s preeminent securities litigation practice plays a leading role in the field’s most significant and precedent‑setting cases, successfully defending individual and class action litigation in jurisdictions across the country. We consistently take on and win consequential securities matters for our clients, having eliminated claims in excess of $60 billion in recent years. While securities cases rarely go to trial, we draw on our extensive experience to successfully try these matters when necessary. In the past several years, we have tried nearly a dozen actions across the full spectrum of securities and shareholder litigation, including winning the first public market purchase case in which the presumption of reliance was successfully rebutted at a trial on the merits and securing one of the only post-trial defense verdicts decided under the entire fairness standard.
A “dominant presence” representing clients “at the forefront of the most complex disputes,” Cravath’s securities team handles prominent and high-stakes matters for every key category of defendant: issuers, financial institutions and audit firms. (Chambers USA) We have achieved notable resolutions and established important precedent impacting companies operating in all major industries, including consumer products; energy and natural resources; financial services; healthcare and life sciences; media and entertainment; and technology. Our “deep-bench” of securities litigators devises innovative strategies from the boardroom to the courtroom, giving corporate defendants and their boards of directors greater ammunition to protect critical business interests and leveling the litigation playing field. (The Legal 500 US)
Because of our experience handling the largest and most complex cases, we have particular expertise in coordinating the defense, and often global resolution, of parallel related actions. Our securities litigation practice also extends to internal and governmental investigations and related proceedings, such as shareholder derivative actions and ERISA cases.
Repeatedly named “Securities Litigation Firm of the Year” by Benchmark Litigation and “Securities Practice Group of the Year” by Law360, our securities litigation practice has been consistently ranked in the top tier by Benchmark Litigation, Chambers USA, The Legal 500 US and Best Lawyers Best Law Firms. The Firm also was named New York Law Journal’s “Litigation Department of the Year” in 2022 and 2019; its “Class Action Litigation Department of the Year” in 2021; and its “Finance Litigation Department of the Year” in 2018.
In addition, our securities litigators have earned repeated praise from clients and the market, including:
A “dominant presence” representing clients “at the forefront of the most complex disputes,” Cravath’s securities team handles prominent and high-stakes matters for every key category of defendant: issuers, financial institutions and audit firms. (Chambers USA) We have achieved notable resolutions and established important precedent impacting companies operating in all major industries, including consumer products; energy and natural resources; financial services; healthcare and life sciences; media and entertainment; and technology. Our “deep-bench” of securities litigators devises innovative strategies from the boardroom to the courtroom, giving corporate defendants and their boards of directors greater ammunition to protect critical business interests and leveling the litigation playing field. (The Legal 500 US)
Because of our experience handling the largest and most complex cases, we have particular expertise in coordinating the defense, and often global resolution, of parallel related actions. Our securities litigation practice also extends to internal and governmental investigations and related proceedings, such as shareholder derivative actions and ERISA cases.
Repeatedly named “Securities Litigation Firm of the Year” by Benchmark Litigation and “Securities Practice Group of the Year” by Law360, our securities litigation practice has been consistently ranked in the top tier by Benchmark Litigation, Chambers USA, The Legal 500 US and Best Lawyers Best Law Firms. The Firm also was named New York Law Journal’s “Litigation Department of the Year” in 2022 and 2019; its “Class Action Litigation Department of the Year” in 2021; and its “Finance Litigation Department of the Year” in 2018.
In addition, our securities litigators have earned repeated praise from clients and the market, including:
Deals & Cases
November 15, 2023
On November 13, 2023, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida denied plaintiffs’ motion to certify a class asserting market manipulation claims under the federal securities laws against Cravath clients Robinhood Markets, Inc., Robinhood Financial LLC and Robinhood Securities, LLC (together, “Robinhood”).
Deals & Cases
June 28, 2023
On June 23, 2023, Judge Michael T. Liburdi of the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona dismissed with prejudice all claims brought against Cravath clients First Solar, Inc. and its executives (collectively, “First Solar”) in a purported securities class action litigation concerning the company’s Series 6 solar module and its Project Development business.
Deals & Cases
June 09, 2023
On June 6, 2023, the Delaware Supreme Court affirmed the Delaware Court of Chancery’s judgment in favor of Cravath client Elon Musk on all counts in a stockholder derivative suit related to Tesla, Inc.’s (“Tesla”) 2016 acquisition of SolarCity Corp. (“SolarCity”).
Deals & Cases
April 07, 2023
On Thursday, March 30, 2023, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York granted summary judgment in favor of Cravath client Viatris (formed in 2020 from a combination of Mylan and Pfizer’s Upjohn division). The shareholder class action asserted numerous violations of the federal securities laws, all premised on other allegations related to Mylan’s marketing, pricing and classification of EpiPen as well as alleged conduct concerning generic drug price fixing and market allocation.
Deals & Cases
April 01, 2023
On March 31, 2023, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio granted a motion to dismiss with prejudice all claims brought against Cravath clients Root, Inc. and certain of its officers and directors (collectively, “Root”). Root is an insurance company, primarily focused on automobile insurance, with a “mobile‑first”, data‑driven business model that makes risk assessments, in part, based on complex behavioral data, including an individual’s actual driving behavior.
Activities & Publications
February 16, 2024
On February 15, 2024, Cravath partners John W. White, Justin C. Clarke and Michael L. Arnold participated in the 40th Annual Federal Securities Institute, which was hosted by the Business Law Section of the Florida Bar in Tampa, Florida from February 15‑16, 2024. John moderated a panel entitled “Evolving Accounting Focal Points in 2024: Lawyers Advising Public Companies Be Alert!” Justin moderated a panel entitled “Private Securities Litigation – 2024 Developments and Trends.” Michael spoke on a panel entitled “Activism in UPC’s Sophomore Year: What to Expect.”
Activities & Publications
February 14, 2024
Cravath partners G.J. Ligelis Jr., Alyssa K. Caples, Christopher K. Fargo and Margaret T. Segall co‑authored the U.S. Law & Practice chapter of the fourth edition of Chambers “Investing In… 2024” Guide, which was published in January 2024. The guide, which is part of the publisher’s Global Practice Guides series, examines country‑specific legal issues that arise from foreign direct investment (“FDI”) and cross‑border transactions in the more than 30 jurisdictions covered. The U.S. Law & Practice chapter surveys the legal system and regulatory framework for FDI in the country, analyzing the economic climate, as well as considerations related to mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, capital markets, antitrust, national security, tax, employment and intellectual property.
Activities & Publications
February 07, 2024
On February 6, 2024, Cravath published the latest edition of its Finance & Capital Markets Quarterly Review, which provides an update on the bond, equity and loan markets and on restructuring activity during the fourth quarter of 2023. This edition also examines several recent litigation decisions, including in bankruptcy court, notable developments on digital asset regulation, updates on interest rate benchmarks and a variety of SEC rulemaking, comment and enforcement updates.
Activities & Publications
February 07, 2024
On February 6, 2024, Cravath published the latest edition of its Quarterly Review, which examines the Q4 2023 M&A, activism and corporate governance landscape. The Review provides an overview of activity in those areas and discusses other fourth quarter highlights, including the FTC and DOJ’s finalized merger guidelines, recent Delaware cases and related jurisprudence, findings from the FTC and DOJ Antitrust Division’s Hart‑Scott‑Rodino Annual Report and recent rule adoptions related to corporate governance matters.
Accolades
January 31, 2024
On January 24, 2024, Cravath partner David R. Marriott was named to the Daily Journal’s 2024 list of “Leading Commercial Litigators.” The accompanying profile highlights his role in helping Amgen secure a consent order ending all litigation in connection with its pending acquisition of Horizon Therapeutics, as well as his summary judgment victory for Viatris, which was “one of the few resolutions of federal securities fraud litigation at summary judgment that ended entirely in favor of the defendants.” The profile also details Dave’s nearly 30‑year tenure at Cravath and his roles as a lecturer at Columbia University Law School and an adjunct professor at NYU School of Law.
Deals & Cases
November 15, 2023
On November 13, 2023, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida denied plaintiffs’ motion to certify a class asserting market manipulation claims under the federal securities laws against Cravath clients Robinhood Markets, Inc., Robinhood Financial LLC and Robinhood Securities, LLC (together, “Robinhood”).
Deals & Cases
June 28, 2023
On June 23, 2023, Judge Michael T. Liburdi of the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona dismissed with prejudice all claims brought against Cravath clients First Solar, Inc. and its executives (collectively, “First Solar”) in a purported securities class action litigation concerning the company’s Series 6 solar module and its Project Development business.
Deals & Cases
June 09, 2023
On June 6, 2023, the Delaware Supreme Court affirmed the Delaware Court of Chancery’s judgment in favor of Cravath client Elon Musk on all counts in a stockholder derivative suit related to Tesla, Inc.’s (“Tesla”) 2016 acquisition of SolarCity Corp. (“SolarCity”).
Deals & Cases
April 07, 2023
On Thursday, March 30, 2023, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York granted summary judgment in favor of Cravath client Viatris (formed in 2020 from a combination of Mylan and Pfizer’s Upjohn division). The shareholder class action asserted numerous violations of the federal securities laws, all premised on other allegations related to Mylan’s marketing, pricing and classification of EpiPen as well as alleged conduct concerning generic drug price fixing and market allocation.
Deals & Cases
April 01, 2023
On March 31, 2023, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio granted a motion to dismiss with prejudice all claims brought against Cravath clients Root, Inc. and certain of its officers and directors (collectively, “Root”). Root is an insurance company, primarily focused on automobile insurance, with a “mobile‑first”, data‑driven business model that makes risk assessments, in part, based on complex behavioral data, including an individual’s actual driving behavior.
Activities & Publications
February 16, 2024
On February 15, 2024, Cravath partners John W. White, Justin C. Clarke and Michael L. Arnold participated in the 40th Annual Federal Securities Institute, which was hosted by the Business Law Section of the Florida Bar in Tampa, Florida from February 15‑16, 2024. John moderated a panel entitled “Evolving Accounting Focal Points in 2024: Lawyers Advising Public Companies Be Alert!” Justin moderated a panel entitled “Private Securities Litigation – 2024 Developments and Trends.” Michael spoke on a panel entitled “Activism in UPC’s Sophomore Year: What to Expect.”
Activities & Publications
February 14, 2024
Cravath partners G.J. Ligelis Jr., Alyssa K. Caples, Christopher K. Fargo and Margaret T. Segall co‑authored the U.S. Law & Practice chapter of the fourth edition of Chambers “Investing In… 2024” Guide, which was published in January 2024. The guide, which is part of the publisher’s Global Practice Guides series, examines country‑specific legal issues that arise from foreign direct investment (“FDI”) and cross‑border transactions in the more than 30 jurisdictions covered. The U.S. Law & Practice chapter surveys the legal system and regulatory framework for FDI in the country, analyzing the economic climate, as well as considerations related to mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, capital markets, antitrust, national security, tax, employment and intellectual property.
Activities & Publications
February 07, 2024
On February 6, 2024, Cravath published the latest edition of its Finance & Capital Markets Quarterly Review, which provides an update on the bond, equity and loan markets and on restructuring activity during the fourth quarter of 2023. This edition also examines several recent litigation decisions, including in bankruptcy court, notable developments on digital asset regulation, updates on interest rate benchmarks and a variety of SEC rulemaking, comment and enforcement updates.
Activities & Publications
February 07, 2024
On February 6, 2024, Cravath published the latest edition of its Quarterly Review, which examines the Q4 2023 M&A, activism and corporate governance landscape. The Review provides an overview of activity in those areas and discusses other fourth quarter highlights, including the FTC and DOJ’s finalized merger guidelines, recent Delaware cases and related jurisprudence, findings from the FTC and DOJ Antitrust Division’s Hart‑Scott‑Rodino Annual Report and recent rule adoptions related to corporate governance matters.
Accolades
January 31, 2024
On January 24, 2024, Cravath partner David R. Marriott was named to the Daily Journal’s 2024 list of “Leading Commercial Litigators.” The accompanying profile highlights his role in helping Amgen secure a consent order ending all litigation in connection with its pending acquisition of Horizon Therapeutics, as well as his summary judgment victory for Viatris, which was “one of the few resolutions of federal securities fraud litigation at summary judgment that ended entirely in favor of the defendants.” The profile also details Dave’s nearly 30‑year tenure at Cravath and his roles as a lecturer at Columbia University Law School and an adjunct professor at NYU School of Law.
Explore
Celebrating 200 years of partnership. In 2019, we celebrated our bicentennial. Our history mirrors that of our nation. Integral to our story is our culture.
Attorney Advertising. ©2024 Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP.