The securities litigation practice at Latham & Watkins boasts in-depth expertise in the representation of accounting firms, financial institutions, and their officers and directors. The team has particular experience regarding allegations of false and misleading statements. The practice group is headed by Michele Johnson in Orange County, Andrew Clubok across New York and Washington DC, Blair Connelly in New York, and Colleen Smith in San Diego. Clubok has experience handling shareholder derivative lawsuits, including those involving IPO-related alleged misconduct, whilst Smith engages in work spanning several industries, with strengths in securities litigation involving life sciences and newly public companies taken through a de-SPAC. Jeff Hammel, and Jason Hegt are also recommended. Sarah Lightdale joined the firm in April 2026.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Accolades
Client satisfaction: Sector knowledge
Client satisfaction: NPS ®
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘What distinguishes this practice is the combination of deep, highly specific securities litigation expertise with an unusually hands-on and responsive team structure.’
‘Clients get senior-level judgment and accountability without the inefficiencies that often come with more top-heavy teams.’
- ‘The team has a clear command of the securities litigation landscape. They know the regulators, plaintiffs’ firms, and repeat players in the space, and they have handled these same issues with these same counterparts many times before. As a result, their advice is not theoretical—it is practical, strategic, and grounded in real-world experience. They are able to anticipate how matters are likely to unfold and provide clear recommendations that reflect both legal risk and business realities.’
- ‘From a client perspective, one of the team’s greatest strengths is responsiveness and accessibility. Questions are answered quickly and directly, and strategic guidance is delivered early, not after the fact. The team collaborates seamlessly and communicates in a way that is efficient and easy to understand, even on complex or fast-moving issues.’
- ‘Compared to other firms, this practice stands out for its focus, efficiency, and judgment. Rather than overstaffing matters or defaulting to boilerplate approaches, the team brings a tailored strategy informed by deep market knowledge, strong internal collaboration, and a clear understanding of client priorities.’
‘Kevin McDonough is an excellent litigator both in writing and in oral arguments. He did a fabulous job at our hearings.'
Key clients
- Amgen
- Carvana Co.
- Eargo
- Beyond Meat
- Coinbase Global Inc.
- Adobe Inc.
- Desktop Metal
- The Metals Company
- Kohl’s Corporation
- Vroom Automotive
- Alta Mesa Resources
- Meta Platforms Inc.
Work highlights
Secured summary judgment victory for Amgen (formerly ChemoCentryx) in a securities class action seeking more than a billion dollars in damages related to statements regarding a drug’s clinical trial.
Achieved full dismissal with prejudice of securities fraud claims brought against Adobe and its current and former executives related to Adobe’s announced acquisition of Figma, Inc.
Represented Riverstone Holdings LLC and Alta Mesa Resources, Inc. in a high-stakes shareholder dispute related to Alta Mesa’s $3.1 billion write-down and bankruptcy, achieving settlement for approximately 10% of total damages following summary judgment that narrowed the claims and multiple weeks of trial
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Practice head
Michele Johnson; Andrew Clubok; Blair Connelly; Colleen Smith
Other key lawyers
Jeff Hammel; Jason Hegt; Susan Engel; Melanie Blunschi; Kevin McDonough; Daniel Gherardi; Sarah Lightdale