Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP provides an ‘outstanding’ service to an issuer-focused client base facing securities class actions. Team head Jay Kasner leads from the front, utilizing his vast experience in trial and appellate courts at federal and state level to good effect to secure victories for clients from a myriad of industry sectors. Alongside Susan Saltzstein, Kasner recently had a key role in persuading the court to dismiss a putative class action filed by investors against Hawaiian Electric Industries for stock losses suffered as a result of the recent devastating wildfires in Hawaii, a decision that underscores the significant challenges in bringing event-driven securities lawsuits. Palo Alto-based partner Mark Foster led the argument on the aforementioned matter, and since rejoining the firm in 2023 has been a key practitioner defending investor lawsuits brought in the Northern District of California. The firm is also noted for its cross-border capabilities, often working alongside US-qualified litigators in key global jurisdictions. In this regard, Scott Musoff and Robert Fumerton worked closely with the firm’s Hong Kong office to secure a string of recent successes for China-based securities issuers accused of violations of US securities laws. All named practitioners are based in New York unless otherwise indicated.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Accolades

Client satisfaction

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • 'The team provides an outstanding service.'

Key clients

  • Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc.
  • Six Flags Entertainment Corporation and its former CEO and CFO
  • Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corp.
  • Baidui
  • QIYI
  • Futu Holdings
  • Iris Energy
  • Zillow Group, Inc. and its current and former executives
  • Coty Inc. and its board of directors
  • Canopy Growth Corporation and certain of its officers and directors

Work highlights

  • Scored a major dismissal of a putative securities class action filed against Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. and certain of its current and former officers stemming from the devastating August 2023 wildfires in Lahaina, Hawaii, with the court’s ruling underscoring the significant challenges in bringing event-driven securities lawsuits and the reality that —despite stock drops following corporate disasters — not every tragedy gives rise to viable securities fraud claims.
  • Won a bench trial on all remaining counts in a case against hedge fund Saba Capital Master Fund, Ltd. The first-of-its-kind decision validates an important defense mechanism that closed-end funds can utilize against the predatory agenda of special-interest hedge funds like Saba, which engage in takeover strategies that often lead to the functional elimination or harmful shrinkage of their targeted closed-end funds typically held by retirees.
  • Defeated six securities actions in September 2024, including five actions involving non-US defendant companies, including the Asia-based digital brokerage Futu Holdings, Australian bitcoin mining company Iris Energy, Israeli-based intelligence software provider Cognyte and the ‘Google’ and ‘Netflix’ of China, Baidu and iQIYI.

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.

Jay Kasner

Leading partners

The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.

Scott Musoff

Practice head

Jay Kasner

Other key lawyers

Scott Musoff; Susan Saltzstein; Mark Foster; Robert Fumerton; Jenness Parker; Alex Drylewski; Judith Flumenbaum