Securities Litigation

Alston & Bird's Securities Litigation Group represents clients in class actions, derivative cases, SEC and other regulatory proceedings, internal investigations, D&O, E&O and other transaction-based litigation. We also counsel clients regarding corporate governance, disclosure and related issues.

EXPERIENCE

Our national practice encompasses representing individuals and public and privately-held companies in a wide array of economic sectors, including, among others, banking, consumer products, energy, financial institutions, food/beverage, health care, hospitality, information processing, insurance, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, REITS, retail, software, telecommunications, technology, electronic commerce and travel/tourism.

Litigation
We have obtained defense victories in several of the landmark cases in the area of securities litigation. Among our most prominent victories are Stoneridge Investment Partners LLC v. Scientific-Atlanta, Inc., 128 S. Ct. 761 (2008); APA Excelsior v. Premiere Technologies, 476 F.3d 1261 (11th Cir. 2007); In re Charter Communications, Inc. Securities Litigation, 443 F.3d 987 (8th Cir. 2006); and Bryant v. Avado Brands, Inc., 187 F.3d 1271 (11th Cir. 1999). We have an unparalleled track record of obtaining dismissals in the early stages of the litigation. Our litigators obtained dismissals or substantially narrowed 48 percent of the securities class actions defended, compared to a national dismissal average of 21 percent. We have also obtained groundbreaking summary judgment rulings. As a result of our successes, we have been able to achieve favorable settlements in cases where a negotiated resolution was preferable. Moreover, even though most securities actions are either dismissed or settled, our attorneys have substantial experience in actually trying cases. Our extensive experience in trials and arbitrations distinguishes our group from many securities litigators. That experience is vital to our credibility with the plaintiffs' bar – i.e., they know we can take a case to trial and win it.

Internal investigations
We have represented numerous special committees charged with reviewing accounting, stockholder and other corporate governance issues. We have three in-house accountants who team with our attorneys on these engagements where appropriate.

Regulatory proceedings
Our attorneys are well versed in dealing with SEC, NYSE, Nasdaq and NASD investigations. 

BENCH STRENGTH

We literally wrote the book on securities litigation – Securities Litigation: Forms & Analysis (West Publishing 2007). We have also authored scores of authoritative articles on securities litigation and corporate governance, including our Annual Report on Securities Litigation and our Securities Litigation Blog, which profiles real-time updates on the latest developments in this area. We were counsel in leading cases before the U.S. Supreme Court and in the 8th and 11th Circuits on issues of first impression under the securities laws. No other law firm has a greater track record of success in securities litigation than we do.

RECOGNITION

A study presented at an Ali-ABA Conference ranked Alston & Bird eighth nationally in terms of numbers of securities class actions defended. Of our 35 attorneys, three are listed in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business. Seven of our attorneys are listed in seven separate categories in The Best Lawyers in America including, bet-the-company litigation, commercial litigation, corporate governance and compliance and corporate law.