Securities Litigation
We represent individuals harmed by corporate wrongdoing, using securities litigation and whistleblower suits to pursue justice and financial recovery.
$5B
In 2019, Facebook agreed to a $5 billion settlement with the FTC over privacy violations related to the Cambridge
Analytica scandal.
1
Federal Trade Commission, “FTC Imposes
$5 Billion Penalty and Sweeping New Privacy
Restrictions on Facebook,” (July 24, 2019).
$5 Billion Penalty and Sweeping New Privacy
Restrictions on Facebook,” (July 24, 2019).
$3B
In 2020, Wells Fargo paid a $3 billion settlement to the SEC and DOJ over its fraudulent sales practices, including
the creation of millions of fake accounts.
2
Office of Public Affairs, “Wells Fargo Agrees to
Pay $3 Billion to Resolve Criminal and Civil
Investigations into Sales Practices Involving
the Opening of Millions of Accounts Without
Customer Authorization,” (Feb. 21, 2020).
Pay $3 Billion to Resolve Criminal and Civil
Investigations into Sales Practices Involving
the Opening of Millions of Accounts Without
Customer Authorization,” (Feb. 21, 2020).
$2.9B
In 2020, Goldman Sachs agreed to pay over $2.9 billion globally to settle charges related to the 1MDB bribery and money-laundering scandal.
3
U.S. Department of Justice, “Goldman
Sachs Charged in Foreign Bribery Case
and Agrees to Pay Over $2.9 Billion,”
(Oct. 22, 2020)
Sachs Charged in Foreign Bribery Case
and Agrees to Pay Over $2.9 Billion,”
(Oct. 22, 2020)
$6B
In 2022, Allianz Global Investors agreed to pay over $6 billion in restitution for misrepresenting risks and abandoning strategies in its Structured Alpha funds.
4
Jarett Sena, “Securities-Related Class
Action Settlements of 2023,” Institutional
Shareholder Services (Jan. 18, 2024).
Action Settlements of 2023,” Institutional
Shareholder Services (Jan. 18, 2024).
In 2022, cryptocurrency exchange FTX collapsed, leading to over $8 billion in investor losses due to alleged securities fraud and other financial misconduct.
5
Securities and Exchange Commission,
“Securities and Exchange Commission
v. Samuel Bankman-Fried,” United States
District Court for the Southern District of
New York, Case No. 22-cv-10501
(Dec. 13, 2022).
“Securities and Exchange Commission
v. Samuel Bankman-Fried,” United States
District Court for the Southern District of
New York, Case No. 22-cv-10501
(Dec. 13, 2022).
Notorious incidents like the Enron scandal, the Subprime Mortgage Crisis, and the FTX collapse highlight the devastating consequences of financial misconduct. These events, along with insider trading and market manipulation, inflict trillions of dollars in losses when adjusted for inflation, destroy jobs, bankrupt businesses, and erode the life savings of countless individuals and families.
We help investors and workers recoup losses and safeguard their interests against the devastating impacts of corporate fraud. Our firm is dedicated to enhancing shareholder value and corporate governance by addressing a spectrum of corporate misconduct, from options backdating and insider trading to fraudulent financial reporting.
Overview
White-collar crime often evades detection due to its intricate concealment methods and cross-border complexities, evidenced by a mere 1% detection and prosecution rate.
In 2014, Bank of America reached a record $16.65 billion settlement with the U.S. DOJ to resolve federal and state civil claims, related to financial fraud and the sale of toxic mortgage-backed securities, contributing to the 2008 financial crisis.
7
Department of Justice, “Bank of America
to Pay $16.65 Billion in Historic Justice
Department Settlement for Financial
Fraud Leading up to and During the
Financial Crisis,” Office of Public Affairs
(Aug. 21, 2014).
to Pay $16.65 Billion in Historic Justice
Department Settlement for Financial
Fraud Leading up to and During the
Financial Crisis,” Office of Public Affairs
(Aug. 21, 2014).
Corporate Accountability
U.S. publicly traded corporations operate under fiduciary duties that, combined with market pressures, often lead executives to prioritize shareholder returns. This focus on quarterly earnings frequently conflicts with public interest, legal compliance, and social stability. The result: corporate decisions that boost short-term profits while sacrificing long-term value and sometimes crossing legal boundaries.
- Documented Corporate Decisions: One striking example can be found in the Ford Pinto case, where internal memos reportedly revealed the company’s cost-benefit analysis comparing vehicle repairs against projected costs from injuries and deaths. Similarly, court documents show Purdue Pharma marketed OxyContin despite growing evidence connecting it to a nationwide opioid epidemic that contributed to hundreds of thousands of deaths. In another well-documented case, Volkswagen installed “defeat devices” in millions of vehicles to alter emissions testing results while marketing their cars as environmentally friendly.
- Healthcare and Human Cost: Consider how in the health insurance industry, the denial of claims can be treated as a financial gain and the approval of medically necessary care may appear on the balance sheet as a liability. In this framework, human suffering sometimes becomes a business strategy.
- Financial Market Manipulation: In capital markets, institutional investors often extract value from volatility, monetizing turbulence while remaining insulated from its consequences. For many financial institutions, market dislocation isn’t a threat—it’s a business model. Meanwhile, long-term investors—pension funds, retirees, and ordinary households—absorb the punishing impact of systemic shocks with virtually no protection. These asymmetries aren’t accidental; they’re engineered to benefit insiders at the expense of everyone else.
- The financial media ecosystem often functions less as a source of objective analysis and more like a loudspeaker amplifying market volatility in what can resemble a rigged casino. Retail investors are frequently coaxed toward action under an illusion of precision, while the system’s celebrated figures—from Sam Bankman-Fried to Jeffrey Skilling, Elizabeth Holmes to Martin Shkreli, Charlie Javice to Rishi Shah—rise to prominence through compelling innovation narratives before their eventual fraud convictions expose the deception behind the spectacle.
- In these and countless similar cases, corporate executives sacrifice public welfare and long-term stability on the altar of quarterly profits. We represent investors and whistleblowers who refuse to accept this status quo. Securities litigation serves as both a pathway to financial recovery and a powerful mechanism for redefining accountability—challenging a marketplace where misaligned incentives systematically undermine public trust and personal security.
White-collar crime is pervasive and often goes unreported and unprosecuted, with occupational fraud alone accounting
for over $3.6 billion in global losses annually, according to ACFE estimates.
8
Annette Greene, “Fraud: Trends to Look
For,” Defense Logistics Agency Disposition
Services Office of Internal Review
(July 27, 2022).
For,” Defense Logistics Agency Disposition
Services Office of Internal Review
(July 27, 2022).
Shareholders' Rights
- Securities Fraud: Initiate legal action for securities fraud, including insider trading and misrepresentation.
- Derivative Lawsuits: Hold executives accountable for corporate wrongdoing when the company fails to act.
- Class Actions: Unite to recover losses from corporate malpractices through collective legal action.
- Whistleblower Protection: Support whistleblowers exposing unethical or illegal conduct within corporations and protect them from retaliation.
- Investment Recovery: Seek recovery for losses due to embezzlement, accounting fraud, and other white-collar crimes.
We advocate for clients seeking to recover losses from fraudulent corporate practices.
Lawyers' Role
- Strategic Legal Advocacy: We transform complex securities laws into clear, actionable paths for our clients, ensuring they understand their rights and the legal avenues available for redress.
- Focused Plaintiff Representation: We represent plaintiffs against powerful corporations, concentrating on recovering financial losses and holding entities accountable for fraud and misrepresentation.
- Direct Action for Accountability: We actively pursue legal actions against individuals and companies responsible for financial misconduct, seeking not only compensation, but also to improve practices for the wider community.
- Tailored Case Development: Each claim is meticulously developed, with evidence gathered and arguments honed to present the strongest possible case.
How We Can Help
Fraudulent Misrepresentation and False Financial Statements
Represent investors harmed by materially false or misleading statements in financial reports, earnings calls, or investor presentations that result in investment losses. Seek appropriate remedies and structural governance improvements where warranted.
Failure to Disclose Material Information
Advocate for investors affected by companies that conceal material facts, such as pending litigation, regulatory investigations, or deteriorating financial conditions, in violation of federal and state disclosure obligations.
Market Manipulation and Insider Trading
Pursue claims involving artificial market activity, including algorithmic trading abuses, spoofing, and the misuse of material non-public information. Particular focus on complex or international misconduct that distorts market integrity.
Ponzi Schemes and Financial Fraud
Support recovery efforts for victims of fraudulent investment schemes by tracing assets, coordinating with receivers, and initiating civil actions where appropriate.
Hedge Fund and Private Equity Fraud
Handle disputes involving undisclosed fees, manipulated valuations, misrepresented performance data, and conflicts of interest that harm limited partners and institutional investors.
Cryptocurrency and Digital Asset Fraud
Represent investors harmed by deceptive token offerings, price manipulation on crypto exchanges, DeFi exploits, or digital asset platform failures, applying securities laws to emerging asset classes.
Breach of Fiduciary Duty and Corporate Mismanagement
Hold officers, directors, and fund managers accountable for self-dealing, excessive compensation, and oversight failures that diminish shareholder value or violate fiduciary obligations.
Emerging Securities Trends (SPACs and ESG Claims)
Address misstatements and due diligence failures in SPAC transactions, along with misleading environmental, social, or governance (ESG) claims used to influence investment decisions.
Whistleblower Protections in Securities Fraud
Represent individuals reporting securities violations under the SEC and CFTC whistleblower programs. Provide guidance regarding protections against retaliation and eligibility for statutory awards.
Financial Advisor Misconduct and Arbitration
Advocate for investors harmed by unsuitable investment advice, unauthorized trading, or other violations of fiduciary and FINRA obligations, including through arbitration proceedings.
Class Actions for Excessive Mutual Fund Fees
Lead investor class actions under Section 36(b) of the Investment Company Act, challenging mutual fund fee structures that significantly exceed those charged to institutional clients.
Bankruptcy, Insolvency, and Debt Restructuring Fraud
Litigate claims arising from fraudulent transfers, preferential payments, and material misstatements in the context of bankruptcy or restructuring proceedings.
Bank Failures and AML Violations
Represent clients impacted by financial institutions’ inadequate compliance with anti-money laundering (AML) laws or Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) obligations, particularly where those failures contribute to investor losses.
Merger and Acquisition Litigation
Challenge transactions involving inadequate consideration, improper deal protections, or conflicted decision-makers. Seek enhanced disclosures or improved deal terms where shareholder interests are compromised.
Auditor and Gatekeeper Liability
Pursue claims against auditors, underwriters, and counsel who approve or fail to detect materially misleading financial statements, particularly where professional negligence or willful disregard is evident.
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) Violations
Represent shareholders harmed by corporate conduct that violates the FCPA, such as overseas bribery schemes that result in financial penalties or reputational harm. Also advise whistleblowers reporting such violations.
Antitrust and Market Allocation Schemes
Address conduct that artificially inflates securities prices, including price-fixing and market allocation agreements that undermine fair competition and harm investor interests.
Investment Grade Bond and Municipal Securities Fraud
Assist bondholders misled about creditworthiness, default risks, or material financial changes, especially in structured or municipal offerings.
Proxy Voting Fraud and Shareholder Democracy
Challenge proxy solicitation abuses, vote suppression tactics, and governance practices that diminish minority shareholder rights or distort election outcomes.
Commodities and Futures Manipulation
Pursue claims involving price manipulation in commodities and futures markets, including energy, agriculture, and precious metals, using available regulatory and civil enforcement mechanisms.
Algorithmic and High-Frequency Trading Abuses
Investigate trading strategies such as spoofing, layering, and momentum ignition that distort price discovery and undermine market transparency, particularly in retail-facing environments.
ERISA Stock Drop Litigation
Represent participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans harmed by fiduciary breaches tied to artificially inflated company stock prices or undisclosed corporate risks.
Broker-Dealer Misconduct
Advocate for investors subjected to excessive trading (churning), negligence, unsuitable investment recommendations, or unauthorized transactions in violation of FINRA and SEC standards.
Delayed or Denied Shareholder Distributions
Assist minority shareholders in recovering lawfully owed dividends or distributions that are improperly withheld, particularly in closely held corporations and fund structures.
Data-Driven Securities Litigation
Investigate improper use of artificial intelligence, predictive analytics, and trading algorithms that exploit or distort investor behavior, applying novel legal theories to protect market fairness.
Tax Fraud and Evasion Impact
Address investor losses resulting from corporate tax evasion schemes, including misstatements that trigger regulatory action or financial restatements. Focus on complex cross-border structures and material risk concealment.
