Milo Petranovich

Shareholder | Portland | 503.778.2114 | petranovichm@lanepowell.com

Areas of Practice

Milo Petranovich has extensive experience in complex civil and corporate litigation, including substantial trial experience in cases involving securities fraud, antitrust violations, franchise, health care and corporate governance, as well as white collar criminal defense in state and federal courts.

Milo has acted as lead counsel in a number of securities actions, both before and after passage of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. He has represented public and private corporations, and individual officers and directors in class actions, derivative actions and other corporate governance disputes.

Milo is also recognized as one of the Northwest’s leading antitrust and trade regulation advice and litigation attorneys. He is routinely called upon to provide antitrust counsel to entities ranging from Fortune 500 companies to start ups, providing solutions that establish compliance with the law without the loss of a competitive edge.

Admitted to Practice

• Oregon

Academics

• University of Michigan (J.D., 1976)
• American University (B.A., magna cum laude, 1973)
• Phi Delta Kappa
• Phi Delta Phi

Practice Group and Specialty Team Memberships

• Chair, Antitrust and Trade Regulation Practice Group
• Director and Officer Liability, and Securities Litigation
• Complex Litigation
• Renewable Energy
• Securities
• White Collar Criminal Defense, Regulatory Compliance and Special Investigations

Representative Matters and Clients

Securities and Shareholder Disputes
• Represented CEO of publicly traded company in internal and SEC investigation of alleged accounting irregularities.
• Represented publicly traded company in settlement of derivative litigation alleging accounting irregularities in revenue recognition procedures.
• Represented one of the nation’s largest long term care providers in an SEC investigation of alleged fraud in raising more than $400 million in private investments, obtaining a rare defeat of SEC requests for injunctive relief and asset seizure.
• Represented CEO and largest shareholder in defense of hostile takeover of Oregon corporation, under Oregon’s Control Share Act, an anti-takeover statute.
• Represented director and member of audit committee in class action lawsuit asserting corporate loss due to the alleged stock option back dating.
• Represented CEO of publicly traded company on criminal charges of violation of Sarbanes-Oxley Act and securities laws in connection with restatement of company’s financial statements because of accounting irregularities.
• Defended chairman of publicly traded Delaware corporation in ten–week trial involving derivative and direct claims for breach of fiduciary duty in connection with securities financing and private investment in public equities.
• Defended director and CEO of nutriceutical company in eight–week trial against claims of securities violation, fraud, and punitive damages.
• Represented major telecommunications company in two–week trial involving claims by former executive of securities law violations in connection with company stock option plan.
• Represented one of the leading global investment banking, securities, and investment management firms in Enron litigation.
• Represented telecommunications company at trial against former CEO alleging excessive compensation and breach of fiduciary duties.

Antitrust and Competition

• Represented domestic sales agency in Department of Justice criminal investigation of alleged price fixing in SRAM computer chip market.
• Represented Northwest aluminum companies in pursuing and resolving antitrust claims against multinational manufacturers and suppliers of carbon-based manufacturing supplies.
• Represented major telecommunications company at trial of antitrust and contract claims arising out of deregulation of long-distance telecommunication service.
• Represented dental services provider against dentists’ association and dental insurer alleging monopolization and unfair competitive practices.
• Defended fashion apparel manufacturer at trial against claims of price fixing and price maintenance.
• Represented major oil company on appeal of antitrust and price discrimination claims brought by former dealer.
• Represented executives of agricultural chemical manufacturer in US. Department of Justice and Canadian Competition Bureau investigation of price fixing and cartel behavior.
• Defended multinational tool manufacturing company at six–week trial of former dealer’s claims of economic duress, fraud, and breach of contractual obligations of good faith and fair dealing.

Health Care Disputes

• Represented one of the nation’s largest system of hospitals in six–week trial involving claims of wrongful competitive conduct and breach of fiduciary duty.
• Represented community hospital in antitrust lawsuit against dominant hospital system.
• Represented manufacturer of medical diagnostic tests in cases alleging trade secret violations and breaches of fiduciary duties.

Energy Disputes

• Represented major industrial power user in multi-venue litigation of regulatory, antitrust, and contract claims against energy utilities and energy traders arising out of California energy crisis and related market dysfunctions.
• Represented supplier in three week arbitration of multimillion dollar demand side power purchase contract.

Publications

• “A Tale (Or Two) Of Two (Or More) Forums,” Oregon State Bar Litigation Journal, Summer Edition (Co-author)

Speaking Engagements

• “Developments in Securities Litigation,” Oregon State Bar Annual Northwest Securities Institute CLE, February 4, 2011
• “Depositions Under Or.R.Civ.P 39C(6) and Fed.R.Civ.P. 30(b)(6),” Lane Powell Trial Department Training, March 31, 2010
• “Recent Development in Securities Litigation,” 4th Annual Directors and Officers Liability Briefing Seminar, March 23, 2010
• “Contribution Under the Oregon Securities Laws, Assigning Responsibility or Dividing the Spoils,” Oregon State Bar Securities Section meeting, January 20, 2010
• “Preparing and Putting on Your Case, Part 1,” Mediation and Arbitration in Oregon, Oregon Law Institute, October 9, 2009
• “TIC TACK DOUGH: Tenants in Common Investments under the Oregon Securities Laws,” Oregon State Bar Securities Law Section Meeting, March 18, 2009
• “Developments in Securities Litigation,” 2008 Willamette Securities Regulation Conference, Willamette University College of Law, October 30, 2008
• “Doing Business in China, Part I,” Doing Business in China: What You Need to Know Seminar, May 10, 2007 (Seattle), May 17, 2007 (Portland)
• “The Agreement To Arbitrate – What Should Be In It And Why,” Oregon Law Institute Mediation and Arbitration in Oregon, May 19, 2006
• “Recent Development in Health Care Antitrust:  Dominant Hospitals and Exclusive Contracts”

Awards and Honors

• Peer Review Rated “AV” in Martindale-Hubbell
• Named as “Oregon Super Lawyer,” Super Lawyers magazine, Business Litigation 2008-2011 (“Top 50 Oregon Super Lawyers,” Litigation 2010)
• Named as one of The Best Lawyers in America®, Antitrust, Litigation – Securities, 2006-2012
• Recommended by Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Litigation: General Commercial, 2008-2011
• Selected “Local Litigation Star” by Benchmark Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Securities (2012)

Professional and Community Activities

• Member, Oregon State Bar Antitrust, Trade Regulation, Securities, Business Litigation, and Alternative Dispute Resolution Sections; Former Chair, Unfair Trade Practices Section
• Member, American Bar Association Antitrust and Dispute Resolution Sections
• Member, Multnomah Bar Association