Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP‘s shareholder litigation team offers considerable trial experience to clients facing suits linked to both M&A activities and corporate governance issues, including allegations of breaches of fiduciary duties by company directors and officers. In New York, Meredith Kotler and Mary Eaton specialize in defending stockholder challenges to M&A deals and tackling securities class actions; recently they secured the dismissal of several claims brought by Viela stockholders against AstraZeneca, alleging that its 2018 spinoff of Viela was done at below market value and under pressure from AstraZeneca officers. Kotler and Eaton spearhead the firm’s M&A litigation alongside Silicon Valley-based Boris Feldman, who represents an impressive roster of tech clients in securities and M&A disputes, notably advising Tesla in response to shareholder claims that the board failed to act in relation to a number of business indiscretions committed by CEO Elon Musk.
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'I think the Freshfields litigation practice is outstanding due to the strength and depth of the team, their vast experience and global reach. They are simply better all around than their peers.'
- 'The two standout partners are Mary Eaton and Meredith Kotler. Mary is a world class litigator, extremely responsive, great judgment. Meredith Kotler is a superb writer, a great courtroom lawyer and utterly tenacious.'
- 'We have found the entire team, but especially the partners, to have fantastic subject matter expertise and great knowledge of the people and personalities, whether it be opposing counsel or the judges. The team has taken the time to really understand our complicated business model, which enables them to provide useful advice and counsel.'
- 'The advice provided is practical, actionable and efficient. We are usually presented with options and the pros and cons of each of the options. The partners are available as needed.'
Key clients
- AstraZeneca PLC, its CEO, and several other executives
- Tesla, several executives and its board
- Buzzfeed and certain officers
- Omar Johnson, former director of Qualtrics International, Inc.
- Penske Automotive Group and its board
- Current and former independent directors of Jacobs Solutions
- PubMatic, Inc. and its directors
- Next Fifteen Communications Corporation and its CEO
- Sumitomo Pharma UK Holdings, Ltd./Sumitomo Pharma America, Inc./Myovant Sciences Ltd.
Work highlights
- Represented AstraZeneca and several of its executives in obtaining the dismissal of all claims against it as alleged controlling stockholder of Viela Bio in a challenge to Viela’s $3bn sale to Horizon.
- Won summary judgment dismissing all claims against Next Fifteen Communications Corporation and its CEO, stemming from the company’s acquisition of a startup.
- Defended Tesla and its board against a series of oversight claims in Delaware Chancery and Texas courts, including based on allegations of purported race and gender discrimination at company factories, failure to abide by an SEC settlement order, misuse of company resources and insider trading.
Lawyers
Hall of fame
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Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Practice head
Meredith Kotler; Mary Eaton; Boris Feldman
Other key lawyers
Doru Gavril; Nicholas Caselli