Distinguished as a top business litigation practice, we offer innovative, timely and strategic solutions to complex legal issues in pursuit of client business goals. We pride ourselves on working effectively and efficiently, hand in hand with the client, from the inception of the matter and throughout the life of the case. We also routinely intervene long before litigation is initiated, employing risk management and avoidance strategies as a key part of our advisory services. When litigation is unavoidable, however, or presents the best alternative, we are vested in a positive outcome for clients and work aggressively towards the most effective and expedient resolution.

While we represent clients in all types and stages of litigation, we have notable depth and a proven track record in the following areas:

Additional Insights

Securities & Corporate Disputes

We represent clients in litigation matters involving state and federal securities laws, shareholder and director fiduciary duty claims, close corporation disputes, broker-dealer claims, RICO claims and disputes concerning corporate transactions (e.g., mergers, asset purchase agreements and buy-sell agreements). Additionally, we counsel clients on corporate governance and compliance issues and also conduct or assist in corporate internal investigations. Areas include: Securities Litigation; Shareholder Derivative Litigation; and Close Corporation Litigation.

Unfair Competition Litigation

We offer a skilled, multidisciplinary team of attorneys armed with a deep understanding of unfair competition laws and the practical know-how to thoroughly and efficiently address any issues that arise in defending, prosecuting and resolving unfair competition claims. Our team works with clients from every industry, in venues across the county, on claims related to employees at all levels, including sales, administrative, executive and management personnel. We routinely handle some of the largest, most complex unfair competition cases involving everything from intellectual property, licensing and pricing issues to joint ventures, marketing and distribution practices.

Banking & Financial Disputes

We serve as the trusted litigation counsel for the financial services industry’s most complex and sensitive legal cases. We are committed to growing this trust through our delivery of cost-effective service and by placing our clients’ business, reputation and successes, first and foremost. Our integrated, far-sighted approach to case preparation allows us to quickly identify the key points of decision in most disputes and then to effectively exploit those opportunities, whether through early resolution options or winning litigation strategies.

Real Estate & Land Use Litigation

Our team is more than 100 strong. We represent developers, owners, equity investors, home builders, lenders, government entities and other real estate professionals in all aspects of real estate ownership, finance, development, management and disposition. We have a deep understanding of the real estate business and strive to provide our clients with sound legal counsel and practical solutions. Our clients look to us to “get the deal done,” and we work proactively to resolve issues and close transactions quickly.

Our work spans all property types, from raw land to complex mixed-use and shopping center developments, and has involved projects throughout the U.S. and in a number of foreign countries. We help clients negotiate and close the full range of real estate transactions, including mezzanine, permanent and tax-exempt bond financing, as well as REAs, equity investments, joint ventures, ownership restructures and sale/leaseback transactions.

Our team has a top-tier ranking, a proven litigation track record, and a reputation for integrity and competency with our clients as well as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and various state civil rights agencies. We counsel some of the nation’s leading companies on employee and union matters, offering guided counsel and aggressive litigation if needed.

From workplace safety and workers’ compensation matters to trade secrets, government contracts and ERISA litigation, we are experienced and equipped to handle any legal challenges that arise within the employment context. Most importantly, we place client service as our top priority. We approach every engagement with uncompromising professionalism and work collaboratively with our clients to find practical solutions to their employment matters.

• Affirmative action and OFCCP
• Collective bargaining and arbitrations
• Employee safety and OSHA
• Employment discrimination and wrongful termination
• Immigration
  • Human resources training
  • Employment-based immigration
  • Outbound immigration
• Trade secret and covenants not-to-compete
• Union avoidance/campaigns
• Wage and hour
• Workers’ compensation

The White Collar & Investigtions Group is experienced in protecting corporate and individual interests from the first moments of an investigation all the way through trial. We recognize that investigations into corporate activities can be incredibly consequential, beginning with the damage to reputation that can occur even before charges are filed. To that end, we are often able to avert criminal proceedings by conducting comprehensive internal audits and investigations, or developing corporate compliance programs, and by aggressively advocating for clients before the relevant law enforcement or regulatory agencies.

The WC&I Group relies on a wealth of both prosecutorial and defense experience in defending companies and individuals, including: multinational and domestic corporations and financial institutions; business executives; medical, legal, financial, and accounting professionals.

Internal, Regulatory, and Audit Committee Investigations

• Represent corporations and individuals in both civil and criminal investigations and enforcement proceedings brought by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Attorneys General of New Jersey, New York, and other states, and many regulatory agencies, including the SEC, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), and Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
• Handle significant investigations on behalf of Fortune 100 companies, pharmaceutical companies, telecommunications and financial services firms, government contractors, and nonprofits.
• Experienced in planning a regulatory investigation at its inception, carrying it out in an organized manner, and representing clients through all its critical phases:
• • Appreciating the concerns and roles of outside auditors
  • Preserving the attorney-client privilege and work-product doctrine
  • Maximizing cooperative work with forensic accountants, forensic information technology experts, and private investigators
  • Counseling audit committees or other persons supervising an investigation

Other Types of Internal Investigations:

• Financial reporting and disclosure obligations
• Accounting improprieties
• Executive compensation/corporate looting
• Misappropriation of funds
• Insider trading of securities and other suspicious market trading
• Adequacy of internal controls and other compliance matters
• Anti-kickback, off-label promotion, and other inappropriate marketing of pharmaceuticals
• Retaliation for whistle-blowing
• Foreign and domestic bribery and corruption
• Non-compliance with government procurement regulations
• Tax treatment
• Board of Directors violations of policy and law