The ‘very talented’ team at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is ’excellent at resolving cases’ at the pleadings stage for clients before the state and federal courts, often disposing of matters through a motion to dismiss or defeating class certification. Consequently, the team has gained a justifiably very strong reputation among many large corporates seeking representation on big-ticket class actions, including those involving issues of first impression. Noted for her ability to ‘quickly absorb and synthesize highly technical concepts’, New York-based Meredith Kotler often defends life sciences companies on investor class actions brought in the aftermath of alleged mis-statements/omissions regarding new patents and clinical trials. In addition, she is very skilled at defending boards of directors in derivative shareholder suits brought before the Delaware Court of Chancery. Located in New York, Mary Eaton co-heads the team alongside Kotler, and has a broad practice that sees her representing issuers and corporate boards on class actions and derivative claims, including on SPAC and COVID-related matters. In Silicon Valley, the vastly experienced Boris Feldman is ’a strategic thinker’ noted, in particular, for his high-profile defense of major TMT clients, including Alphabet, facing securities class actions and derivative lawsuits.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • 'The team is very talented and excellent at resolving cases.'
  • 'They are incredibly smart and responsive, see around corners better than anyone.'
  • 'Freshfields is a highly experienced securities litigation firm. We were fortunate to achieve a successful outcome that was due in no small part to their exceptional counsel. It was a delight working with them.'
  • 'Meredith Kotler is unusually gifted in as much as she is able to quickly absorb and synthesize highly technical concepts that are outside her area of expertise, such as, for example, certain intricacies of patent law.'
  • 'Mary Eaton and Meredith Kotler are the best, extraordinary thinkers with great strategic vision.'
  • 'Boris Feldman is highly experienced and quickly puts the client at ease. He is a strategic thinker who is always two steps ahead of the adversary.'

Key clients

  • Alphabet Inc. and several officers and directors
  • Li-Cycle and several executives
  • Lilium N.V. and several officers
  • Centessa Pharmaceuticals, several officers and its Board
  • Amarin Corp. PLC, several officers and its Board
  • TriplePoint Venture Growth and several officers and directors
  • Palantir, several officers and its Board
  • Stem, Inc., certain officers and its Board
  • Independent Directors of the Citigroup Board
  • Roblox Corp., several officers and its Board

Work highlights

  • Representing Google-owner Alphabet in several high profile securities class actions and derivative lawsuits, including obtaining dismissal of the globally significant and industry-impactful AdTech litigation.
  • Defending Centessa Pharmaceuticals and its officers and directors in a putative securities class action challenging statements made in its IPO filing regarding a clinical trial for lixivaptan that was ended after certain safety issues.
  • Defending cutting-edge clean technology company Li-Cycle and its officers and directors in a federal securities class action in the Southern District of New York (challenging disclosures about its Rochester Hub).

Lawyers

Hall of fame

The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.

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

Other key lawyers

Boris Feldman; Doru Gavril; Nicholas Caselli; Adam Rosenfeld