The Legal 500

Bernstein Litowitz Berger & Grossmann LLP (BLB&G) is a premier litigation firm representing individual and institutional investor clients worldwide. Since its founding in 1983, BLB&G has obtained over $20bn in recoveries for investors and achieved precedent-setting corporate governance reforms on behalf of its institutional investor clients. Unique among its peers, BLB&G has obtained four of the ten largest securities fraud recoveries in history. The firm has also prosecuted some of the most significant employment discrimination, civil rights and consumer protection cases on record. Equally important, the firm has advanced novel and beneficial principles by developing important new law in the areas in which it litigates. As a result of its accomplishments, the firm and its attorneys have been the subject of numerous feature articles in major media publications in the US and abroad. A distinguished group of trial-tested litigators, BLB&G has repeatedly and consistently earned high praise from the courts before which it practices, as well as the respect of the defense firms and insurance carriers whom it faces in court and across the negotiating table.

Regularly appointed by the courts as lead counsel in US securities class actions, BLB&G has distinguished itself by focusing on the representation of respected institutional investors in meritorious cases. The firm is extremely selective in its prosecutions, only pursuing matters where its clients have significant holdings, and is well known for ‘consistently bringing high-impact cases’ (RiskMetrics Group).

The firm is widely recognized as ‘the biggest star in the firmament’ (Financial Times) and ‘one of the best, bar none’ (Euromoney), and is well regarded for ‘consistently achieving the highest returns for investors’ (The National Law Journal) among law firms prosecuting complex securities fraud. Chambers Guide to America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, in which clients declared that BLB&G ‘gives the best advice in the field’, has awarded the firm top ranking in plaintiff securities litigation every year since the category’s inception five years ago.

Main areas of practice

BLB&G specializes in securities litigation; corporate governance and shareholder rights litigation, including claims for breach of fiduciary duty and proxy violations; the prosecution of violations of federal and state anti-discrimination laws and vindication of employee rights; and consumer claims. The firm also handles, on behalf of major institutional clients and lenders, more general complex commercial litigation involving allegations of breach of contract, accountants’ liability, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud and negligence. BLB&G is currently at the forefront of efforts to recover massive shareholder losses resulting from the global financial collapse as lead counsel in numerous high-profile litigations arising from the subprime mortgage crisis and subsequent global recession. The firm also represents institutional clients in lawsuits seeking to enforce fiduciary obligations in connection with mergers and acquisitions transactions that deprive shareholders of fair value or otherwise treat shareholders unfairly.

Number of Partners: 16
Number of Other Fee-earners: 38
Total Staff: 59