Active amongst investment banks and public accounting firms, Akin is well-versed in a range of securities claims, from stock drop allegations to litigation stemming from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Spearheading the team is the trio of Joseph Sorkin, Douglas Rappaport, both based in New York, Scott Barnard, in Texas, who represents public companies, directors and board committees in securities fraud class actions, shareholder derivatives, and FINRA securities arbitration. Barnard’s focus is on the counselling of energy companies. Rappaport acts as leading counsel in cases involving breaches of fiduciary duty, secured assets, and insider trading.
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Accolades
Client satisfaction: Lawyer & team quality
Client satisfaction: Sector knowledge
Client satisfaction: NPS ®
Key clients
- AllianceBernstein LP
- Gray Jay Management Investments
- Keller Williams Realty, Inc
- Inclusive Capital Partners
- MRC Global
- PwC Dubai
- Talos Energy
- Terran Orbital Corp
- Vistra Corp
- Hudson Bay Capital Management
- Scopia Capital Management LP
- Armistice Capital
Work highlights
Secured a jury victory for Armistice Capital Master Fund Ltd. in a Section 16(b) case.
Secured a victory for Eastman Kodak Company (Kodak) in the Second Circuit, the court affirmed the dismissal of a long-running derivative action where shareholder plaintiffs sought to wrest claims from Kodak against its officers, despite the Kodak board’s decision not to pursue them after an Akin-led investigation.
Secured a victory for Scopia Capital Management LP (Scopia) in the Delaware Court of Chancery.
Practice head
Joseph L. Sorkin; Douglas A. Rappaport; M. Scott Barnard
Other key lawyers
Stephen M. Baldini; Uri A. Itkin; Stephanie Lindemuth; Kate D. Shapiro; Jacqueline Yecies