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Cravath’s London Office Moves to 100 Cheapside

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Litigation

Board and Officer Representation

Board and Officer Representation

Cravath represents boards, board committees, inside and outside directors and company executives from the boardroom to the courtroom—developing creative and workable solutions to the wide range of complex governance issues and high‑stakes litigation our clients face.

Cravath is “renowned for its representation of corporate defendants as well as individual officers and directors in class actions and large individual actions.” (The Legal 500 US) We have substantial boardroom experience in a wide variety of contexts, including crisis management, governmental and internal investigations, accounting and executive compensation issues, shareholder demands, derivative litigation and other critical disputes. In addition, we often work side by side with boards on mergers and acquisitions, proxy contests and many other situations requiring the attention of senior decision‑makers. Many of the investigations, demands and cases we have handled in recent years relate to issues drawing a high degree of public scrutiny, including data breaches, executive compensation, alleged accounting and securities fraud, allegations of sexual misconduct and purported improper business practices, such as violation of the FCPA and antitrust laws. Our lawyers adeptly navigate the complex and sensitive issues that can arise in connection with these types of claims for companies across industries, from high‑profile technology to financial institutions to consumer products.

In these and other circumstances, we assist board members in making difficult business judgments, including by ensuring they have the appropriate factual and legal information needed to move forward. Our work on these matters includes, among other things, fact finding, advising committees and boards on issues of law and fact, and coordinating with both in-house counsel and, where relevant, other outside counsel responsible for related claims or proceedings. By working collaboratively and constructively with company counsel and management, we aim to minimize the disruption and inefficiencies that can be associated with these challenging circumstances.

Cravath is “renowned for its representation of corporate defendants as well as individual officers and directors in class actions and large individual actions.” (The Legal 500 US) We have substantial boardroom experience in a wide variety of contexts, including crisis management, governmental and internal investigations, accounting and executive compensation issues, shareholder demands, derivative litigation and other critical disputes. In addition, we often work side by side with boards on mergers and acquisitions, proxy contests and many other situations requiring the attention of senior decision‑makers. Many of the investigations, demands and cases we have handled in recent years relate to issues drawing a high degree of public scrutiny, including data breaches, executive compensation, alleged accounting and securities fraud, allegations of sexual misconduct and purported improper business practices, such as violation of the FCPA and antitrust laws. Our lawyers adeptly navigate the complex and sensitive issues that can arise in connection with these types of claims for companies across industries, from high‑profile technology to financial institutions to consumer products.

In these and other circumstances, we assist board members in making difficult business judgments, including by ensuring they have the appropriate factual and legal information needed to move forward. Our work on these matters includes, among other things, fact finding, advising committees and boards on issues of law and fact, and coordinating with both in-house counsel and, where relevant, other outside counsel responsible for related claims or proceedings. By working collaboratively and constructively with company counsel and management, we aim to minimize the disruption and inefficiencies that can be associated with these challenging circumstances.

  • Deals & Cases
  • Recent News & Insights

Deals & Cases

April 29, 2024

Mylan’s Appellate Win Affirming Summary Judgment in Securities Class Action

On Monday, April 15, 2024, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York’s granting of summary judgment in favor of Cravath client Mylan in a securities class action 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

June 28, 2023

First Solar Wins Dismissal of Putative Securities Class Action

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 16, 2017

Qualcomm Directors and Officers Win Dismissal of Shareholder Derivative Suit Related to Purported FCPA Violations

On June 16, 2017, the Delaware Court of Chancery dismissed a stockholder derivative lawsuit brought against current and former directors and officers of Qualcomm Incorporated alleging, among other claims, that defendants breached their fiduciary duties by allegedly failing to prevent purported FCPA violations by the company. In granting the dismissal, Vice Chancellor Tamika R. Montgomery‑Reeves held that the complaint did not plead sufficient facts to infer that the individual defendants had acted in bad faith or that the directors faced a substantial likelihood of personal liability such that plaintiffs’ failure to make a demand on the board to bring a suit was excused.

Deals & Cases

February 09, 2009

Shareholder Litigation Against Darwin Deason Dismissed

On February 6, 2009, the Delaware Chancery Court granted a motion to dismiss in favor of Darwin Deason, the founder and Executive Chairman of Affiliated Computer Services, Inc. (“ACS”). The ruling closes the final chapter in a highly publicized dispute between Deason and the former outside directors of the ACS board.

Activities

March 04, 2025

Law360 Names Cravath a 2024 “Securities Practice Group of the Year”

On February 25, 2025, Cravath was featured by Law360 as a “Securities Practice Group of the Year.” The profile highlighted the Firm’s “reputation as one of the top law firms that companies rely on for representation when faced with derivative lawsuits, investor class actions and other securities‑related litigation,” and recognized in particular the Firm’s representation of Robinhood in the sprawling “Meme Stock” litigation; Forward Air in its amended agreement to acquire Omni Logistics, resolving previously announced litigation; Root in its Sixth Circuit win affirming the dismissal of a putative securities class action; and Mylan in its appellate win affirming summary judgment in a securities class action.

Activities

December 12, 2024

Rachel Skaistis Featured in Lawdragon’s “Lawyer Limelight” Series

On November 12, 2024, Cravath partner Rachel Skaistis was profiled in Lawdragon’s “Lawyer Limelight” series alongside her sister Hannah Ross, who is a partner at a different New York-based law firm. In the joint Q&A, Rachel and Hannah discussed their parallel paths to partnership and reflected on their individual practices in securities law. Describing what she is proudest of in her work, Rachel said: “I have had the privilege of working with such amazing lawyers, and I’ve gotten to learn from so many litigation styles. But it is nice to get to a point where you feel like you have found a style of practicing and advising your clients that is true to who you are.” The sisters also spoke about the mentors and role models, including each other, who helped shape their careers as female litigators.

Activities

November 14, 2024

Gary Bornstein Named a Finalist for The American Lawyer’s 2024 Litigator of the Year Award

Cravath partner Gary A. Bornstein was named a finalist for The American Lawyer’s 2024 Litigator of the Year award as part of the publication’s seventh annual Industry Awards. The accompanying profile highlights Gary’s “many trial victories” and representation of clients including Epic Games in its antitrust trial victory against Google; Deutsche Telekom in a putative class action and derivative litigation related to T‑Mobile’s $26 billion merger with Sprint; and British American Tobacco in putative class action securities litigation.

Activities

September 23, 2024

Gary Bornstein Named a 2024 New York Power Lawyer by The Hollywood Reporter

Gary A. Bornstein was named to The Hollywood Reporter’s “New York Power Lawyers” list, which recognizes the “25 most powerful entertainment lawyers in New York” and was published in the September 19, 2024 issue of The Hollywood Reporter Magazine. The feature highlighted Gary’s representation of Epic Games in its successful antitrust litigation against Google and of a Special Committee of Paramount Global’s independent directors in connection with litigation matters related to the company’s pending $28 billion merger with Skydance.

Activities

June 26, 2024

Mark Greene and Jennifer Leete Speak at Stanford Law School’s 2024 Directors’ College

Cravath partners Mark I. Greene and Jennifer S. Leete spoke at Stanford Law School’s 29th Annual Directors’ College, which was held from June 24‑26, 2024, in Stanford, CA.

Deals & Cases

April 29, 2024

Mylan’s Appellate Win Affirming Summary Judgment in Securities Class Action

On Monday, April 15, 2024, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York’s granting of summary judgment in favor of Cravath client Mylan in a securities class action 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

June 28, 2023

First Solar Wins Dismissal of Putative Securities Class Action

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 16, 2017

Qualcomm Directors and Officers Win Dismissal of Shareholder Derivative Suit Related to Purported FCPA Violations

On June 16, 2017, the Delaware Court of Chancery dismissed a stockholder derivative lawsuit brought against current and former directors and officers of Qualcomm Incorporated alleging, among other claims, that defendants breached their fiduciary duties by allegedly failing to prevent purported FCPA violations by the company. In granting the dismissal, Vice Chancellor Tamika R. Montgomery‑Reeves held that the complaint did not plead sufficient facts to infer that the individual defendants had acted in bad faith or that the directors faced a substantial likelihood of personal liability such that plaintiffs’ failure to make a demand on the board to bring a suit was excused.

Deals & Cases

February 09, 2009

Shareholder Litigation Against Darwin Deason Dismissed

On February 6, 2009, the Delaware Chancery Court granted a motion to dismiss in favor of Darwin Deason, the founder and Executive Chairman of Affiliated Computer Services, Inc. (“ACS”). The ruling closes the final chapter in a highly publicized dispute between Deason and the former outside directors of the ACS board.

Activities

March 04, 2025

Law360 Names Cravath a 2024 “Securities Practice Group of the Year”

On February 25, 2025, Cravath was featured by Law360 as a “Securities Practice Group of the Year.” The profile highlighted the Firm’s “reputation as one of the top law firms that companies rely on for representation when faced with derivative lawsuits, investor class actions and other securities‑related litigation,” and recognized in particular the Firm’s representation of Robinhood in the sprawling “Meme Stock” litigation; Forward Air in its amended agreement to acquire Omni Logistics, resolving previously announced litigation; Root in its Sixth Circuit win affirming the dismissal of a putative securities class action; and Mylan in its appellate win affirming summary judgment in a securities class action.

Activities

December 12, 2024

Rachel Skaistis Featured in Lawdragon’s “Lawyer Limelight” Series

On November 12, 2024, Cravath partner Rachel Skaistis was profiled in Lawdragon’s “Lawyer Limelight” series alongside her sister Hannah Ross, who is a partner at a different New York-based law firm. In the joint Q&A, Rachel and Hannah discussed their parallel paths to partnership and reflected on their individual practices in securities law. Describing what she is proudest of in her work, Rachel said: “I have had the privilege of working with such amazing lawyers, and I’ve gotten to learn from so many litigation styles. But it is nice to get to a point where you feel like you have found a style of practicing and advising your clients that is true to who you are.” The sisters also spoke about the mentors and role models, including each other, who helped shape their careers as female litigators.

Activities

November 14, 2024

Gary Bornstein Named a Finalist for The American Lawyer’s 2024 Litigator of the Year Award

Cravath partner Gary A. Bornstein was named a finalist for The American Lawyer’s 2024 Litigator of the Year award as part of the publication’s seventh annual Industry Awards. The accompanying profile highlights Gary’s “many trial victories” and representation of clients including Epic Games in its antitrust trial victory against Google; Deutsche Telekom in a putative class action and derivative litigation related to T‑Mobile’s $26 billion merger with Sprint; and British American Tobacco in putative class action securities litigation.

Activities

September 23, 2024

Gary Bornstein Named a 2024 New York Power Lawyer by The Hollywood Reporter

Gary A. Bornstein was named to The Hollywood Reporter’s “New York Power Lawyers” list, which recognizes the “25 most powerful entertainment lawyers in New York” and was published in the September 19, 2024 issue of The Hollywood Reporter Magazine. The feature highlighted Gary’s representation of Epic Games in its successful antitrust litigation against Google and of a Special Committee of Paramount Global’s independent directors in connection with litigation matters related to the company’s pending $28 billion merger with Skydance.

Activities

June 26, 2024

Mark Greene and Jennifer Leete Speak at Stanford Law School’s 2024 Directors’ College

Cravath partners Mark I. Greene and Jennifer S. Leete spoke at Stanford Law School’s 29th Annual Directors’ College, which was held from June 24‑26, 2024, in Stanford, CA.

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Cravath Bicentennial

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.

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