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DLA Piper LLP (US)

DLA Piper LLP (US)

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United States • Dispute resolution

3

Securities litigation: defense

Often advising clients in federal securities class actions and corporate control disputes, DLA Piper LLP (US) is well-regarded in the life sciences, technology, and energy sectors. Holding experience in stockholder disputes and complex business litigation arising out of mergers and asset purchase agreements, Melanie Walker heads the practice, working across Los Angeles and Chicago. John Clarke, in New York, is also recommended: Clarke often takes on cases involving alleged fraudulent transfers. Richard Zelichov departed the team in February 2026.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Accolades

Client satisfaction: Lawyer & team quality
Client satisfaction: Billing & efficiency

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘The DLA team was able to push things forward with an adversary who wanted to delay as much as possible.’

  • ‘Hybrid fee structure enabled us to fight a long legal battle while ensuring that clients' and counsel's interests were 100% aligned.’

  • ‘Partners Melanie Walker and Christine Ellice, as well as Associate Eric Hall, stood out for their smarts and effort on the matter.’

  • ‘I work with Christine Ellice, partner at DLA Piper in Securities Litigation. Christine is one of the smartest, sharpest, and business practical attorneys I have ever worked with. Not only is she reliable, but she also asks all the right questions and gets right to the heart of the biggest issues. She gives me immediate and actionable advice, and I seek her counsel for a myriad of issues.’

Key clients

  • Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
  • Trump Media & Technology Group Corp.
  • Tesla, Inc.
  • Plug Power Inc.
  • GigAcquisitions2, LLC
  • The Forest Road Company
  • Ernest Garcia II (founder of Carvana Corporation)
  • Tilray Brands, Inc.
  • B. Riley Securities, Inc.
  • The Hain Celestial Group, Inc.

Work highlights

Represented Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (BMS) in an action by a putative successor indenture trustee alleging breach of a contingent value rights (CVR) agreement that governed the terms of a series of publicly traded CVRs issued by BMS in its 2019 merger with Celgene Corporation.
Succeeded on a motion to dismiss for Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG) in a shareholder dispute in the Delaware Court of Chancery.
Representing Tesla Inc. in a dispute relating to the rescission of a 2018 compensation grant awarded to Tesla’s CEO, Elon Musk, ordered by the Delaware Court of Chancery.
Practice head

Melanie Walker

Other key lawyers

John Clarke; Caryn Schechtman; Jason Lewis; John Reed; Christine Ellice; Steven Rosato; Eric Hall