Leveraging a deep bench of trial and appellate lawyers, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP is well-equipped to represent a myriad financial services entities and blue-chip corporates in big-ticket securities litigation/derivative shareholder matters, in many cases often also involving complex parallel government investigations/enforcements. The scope of the work is broad, including 10b-5 and section 11 cases, as well as M&A litigation and more general corporate governance-related disputes. Vastly experienced team head Jonathan Youngwood is as comfortable acting for large public companies (including within the media and entertainment field) facing down potentially financially ruinous securities fraud class action allegations and on ERISA stock drop litigation, as he is for underwriter banks in the aftermath of IPOs. As well as a vibrant securities litigation and derivative shareholder practice for corporates from a range of industry sectors, Craig Waldman also has tangential expertise regarding litigation arising from strategic and financial sponsor-led transactions. Lynn Neuner, who co-heads the overarching litigation group alongside Youngwood, is also a skilled trial lawyer, with many of her cases falling in the securities litigation ambit. Palo Alto-based Stephen Blake is also a highly proficient securities class action litigator (in relation to conventional public IPOs as well as with regard to SPACs), whose expertise not only covers private litigation but also overlapping SEC regulatory enforcement/investigations. All named practitioners are based in New York unless otherwise indicated.
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Profile

Key clients

  • Alibaba Group Holding Ltd
  • Allakos Inc.
  • Bausch Healthcare (f/k/a Valeant Pharmaceuticals)
  • The Blackstone Group
  • Bumble
  • Deutsche Bank
  • J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.
  • Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co.
  • Micron Technology, Inc.
  • Morgan Stanley & Co. Inc.

Work highlights

  • Won a major appellate reversal on behalf of more than a dozen investment banks in Archegos litigation, substantially limiting underwriter due diligence obligations.
  • Defeated class certification on behalf of M&T Bank Corp. in post-closing litigation relating to M&T Bank’s acquisition of Hudson.
  • Secured dismissal of a federal securities class action on behalf of Bright Health.

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.

Next generation partners

Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.

Stephen Blake

Practice head

Jonathan Youngwood

Other key lawyers

Lynn Neuner; Stephen Blake; Craig Waldman; Meredith Karp