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Securities & Corporate Governance Litigation

Our team handles the full spectrum of securities and corporate governance litigation, including:  

  • Securities class actions;
  • Individual, non-class securities actions;
  • Shareholder derivative actions;
  • Shareholder challenges to mergers and acquisitions;
  • Contests for corporate control;
  • Disputes between parties to a merger or acquisition;
  • SEC and DOJ investigations and enforcement actions; and
  • Internal corporate investigations, including representation of independent committees of boards of directors.  

Our securities and corporate governance litigators are among the most respected and experienced practitioners in the profession. We have a culture of hands-on case management, so our partners closely supervise and actively work on our cases. We were recently ranked the second busiest securities practice in the nation, as published in the Law360 Litigation Almanac. We have also been highly ranked in the U.S. News and Best Lawyers annual “Best Law Firms” survey. 

We are “Your Pacific Northwest Law Firm®,” and we maintain a Northwest culture of client service, and Northwest economics. But our geography does not limit the reach of our practices. Our securities and corporate governance litigation practice is a good example. We serve a wide range of clients in litigation around the country. Our clients are attracted to our unique value proposition, combining excellence and experience with a reasonable cost structure and a common-sense approach to case management. This approach includes the opportunity for clients to select from alternate pricing models; a streamlined litigation process that cuts out needless and repetitive work; and a commitment to forcing plaintiffs’ lawyers to prove their case, rather than — as they so often do — being able to rely on baseless accusations to achieve easy settlements against honest companies.

Our team has defended companies such as L&L Energy, Liberty Mutual, Lihua International, Nordstrom, PremierWest Bancorp, Primo Water and Zumiez.

Our Securities & Corporate Governance Litigation Team comprises lawyers who began their career at Lane Powell, and shareholders and associates who joined us from national firms. It includes both lawyers whose practices are devoted to securities litigation and accomplished trial lawyers with a distinct emphasis in securities litigation, including a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and a long-time Assistant U.S. Attorney. We have an excellent track record in obtaining dismissals prior to any discovery. But when a case survives a motion to dismiss, we know how to prepare a case for trial, and our trial lawyers stand ready to try even the largest securities class action.

Related Practices & Industries

  • Class Actions
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Insurance
  • Investigations, Compliance & White Collar
  • Litigation

Get to Know Us

Experience

  • Simmonds v. Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC
    Case No. C07-1549JLR U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington
    Represented a dozen underwriter defendants as local counsel in 54 coordinated cases, filed by the same plaintiff, asserting that directors and officers of 54 companies had acted as a group with the defendants to engage in transactions leading to hundreds of millions of dollars to be disgorged as short swing profits from issuers and underwriters in IPOs from 1998-2001. Short swing profits to be disgorged under Securities Exchange Act Section 16(b). Obtained dismissal later affirmed by U.S. Supreme Court.
  • In re Cutter and Buck Inc. Securities Litigation
    Successful settlements in companion securities and shareholder derivative actions.
  • Hill v. Accentia Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. et al.
    Case No. 8:13-cv-01945-SDM-EAJU.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
    Represented former company CEO in defense of securities class action.
  • In re L&L Energy, Inc. Securities Litigation
    Case No. 13-cv-6704-RAU.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
    Represented L&L Energy and various current and former directors and officers in two sets of securities class actions in federal court in Washington and New York, five shareholder derivative actions in federal and state court in Washington and Nevada, and potential opt-out litigation.
  • In re Lihua International, Inc. Securities Litigation
    Case No. 14-cv-05037-RAU.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
    Defending Lihua International and various individuals in a securities class action arising out of the discovery in late April 2014 that Lihua’s former CEO and former COO took out $200M in hidden and unauthorized debt ostensibly on the company’s behalf.
  • In re Lihua International, Inc. Shareholder Derivative Action
    Case No. 14-cv-03543-RAU.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
    Defending Lihua International and various individuals in a securities class action arising out of the discovery in late April 2014 that Lihua’s former CEO and former COO took out $200M in hidden and unauthorized debt ostensibly on the company’s behalf.
  • In re Vestas Wind Systems A/S Securities Litigation
    Case No. 3:2011cv00585U.S. District Court, District of Oregon
    Representing Henrik Nørremark, former Chief Financial Officer of Vestas Wind Systems A/S, in actions pending in the United States, India and Denmark, including allegations of securities fraud.
  • In re Northwest Pipe Company Derivative Litigation
    Case No. 3:10-cv-05129-RBLU.S. District Court, Western District of Washington
    Represented former CEO and director of Northwest Pipe, Inc., in a federal class action securities lawsuit.
  • Merrihew v. Charles Schwab and Company, Inc., et al
    Represented National Bank in a collective action filed against it on behalf of 54 investors who claim losses in excess of $10M resulting from the collapse of a Ponzi scheme operated by Wesley Rhodes, a former investment advisor.
  • Pierce v. Securities and Exchange Commission
    Case No. 14–1079
    Represented Canadian stock promoter Brent Pierce in administrative proceedings seeking potential disgorgement of more than $10M.
  • Plumbers and Pipefitters Union Local 630 Pension-Annuity Trust Fund v. Northwest Pipe Co. et al.
    Case No. 3:09-cv-05724-RBLU.S. District Court, Western District of Washington
    Represented former CEO and director of Northwest Pipe, Inc., in a federal class action securities lawsuit and a related derivative lawsuit filed, as well as an SEC fraud investigation.
  • Securities Broker-Dealer FINRA Arbitration
    Case No. 10-05313FINRAWashington
    Defended securities broker-dealer in case brought by elderly couple represented by premier national “selling away” counsel after securities regulators had permanently suspended former representative terminated by firm. Favorable settlement. 
  • Albar, Inc./Alpha Technologies Corporate Buy-out Dispute
    Served as special master appointed by JAMS judge in dispute over closely held corporation buy-out of minority shareholder/president by majority shareholder.
  • Anderson v. Aurotek, Inc.
    Case No. 774 F.2d 927U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
    Prosecuted securities fraud and related claims in gold mining tax shelter against promoters and affiliated professionals. Obtained $500,000 summary judgment for plaintiffs. Summary judgment was affirmed as to some and reversed as to other defendants on appeal, then settled.
  • Arth v. Auravision
    Case No. 86-2-01317-8Pierce County Superior Court
    Defended accountant in two state court suits involving a master recording tax shelter. The case involved 15 plaintiffs alleging damages of around $1 million plus attorney fees. Obtained no liability voluntary dismissal with prejudice of multiple-plaintiff case. 
  • Bennett v. Maloney et al.
    Case No. 86-2-08163-1King County Superior Court
    Defended attorney who served as escrow agent in financing of condominium development. Plaintiff, the Masonic Lodge of Washington, sought $250,000 plus attorney fees based on state securities act and other grounds. Prevailed in jury trial, then appealed the lower court's order overruling the jury verdict, prevailed on appeal dismissing all claims. 
  • Buskey v. Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
    Led team of attorneys in several law firms defending broker-dealer in Boise, Idaho state court case. Plaintiffs alleged unsuitable recommendations and churning, and sought over $1 million in “well- managed portfolio compensation” plus punitive damages. After successful summary judgment motions dismissing almost all claims, plaintiffs settled for $15,000. 
  • Glenham v. Palzer
    Case No. C87-849WDU.S. District Court, Western District of Washington
    Obtained summary judgment for attorney who acted as escrow agent for mortgage broker in racketeering case predicated on federal securities fraud in which approximately 30 plaintiffs sought damages of $1.5 million (trebled under RICO to $4.5 million).
  • Thacker v. Dean Witter Reynolds Inc.
    Case No. C91-962DU.S. District Court, Western District of WashingtonSeattle, Washington
    Defended brokerage firm and local account executive in suitability case alleging federal and state securities act violations, RICO and other statutory and commonlaw liability. Procured dismissal of RICO claims on summary judgment and favorable settlement. 
  • McGrath, et al. v. Sentra Securities Corporation, et al.
    Case No. C87-475WDU.S. District Court, Western District of Washington
    Defended brokerage firm in $2.5 million federal court lawsuit brought by about 30 plaintiffs alleging federal and state securities, RICO and other statutory and common law liability. Obtained dismissal when case was combined into MDL class actions.
  • Getty v. Harmon
    Case No. C98-178WDU.S. District Court, Western District of Washington
    Defend stockbroker/insurance salesman in federal court class action in Seattle under the PSLRA, and served as special securities defense counsel in parallel grand jury proceedings. Overcame class damage theories to spark a settlement highly satisfactory to client and his insurance carrier.
  • Neves v. WaMu Investments Inc.
    Case No. 08-0450FINRA
    Obtained dismissal of securities broker-dealer in customer arbitration alleging out of pocket losses over $1 million and consequential damages over $3 million based on unsuitable recommendations.
  • Winchester Gold Corporation, et al. v. American Mining Co., et al.
    Case No. 88-202289-0 Spokane County District Court
    Defended corporate managing partner, directors, and officers of limited partnership comprised of public mining companies in $2.5 million suit in Spokane. Developed and filed counterclaims, and case settled. 
  • NYSE Arca Equities, Inc. Complaint
    Served as co-counsel to NYSE Arca’s primary outside counsel, Milbank Tweed in matter dismissed on motion in which plaintiff alleged damages resulting from payments it made to reimburse customers who claimed to have lost money on trades induced by a stock price that was allegedly — but never actually — reported on the NYSE Arca electronic exchange and was far below the usual trading range for that stock.
  • In Re Nordstrom Securities Litigation
    Case No. C90-295CU.S. District Court, Western District of Washington
    Defended Nordstrom in shareholder class action fraud on the market lawsuit alleging federal and state securities fraud and other statutory and common law liability. Deposed a number of retail securities analysts to develop "information on the market" defense, leading to favorable settlement. 
  • Hollinger v. Titan Capital Corp.
    Case No. 914 F.2d 1564 U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
    Defended brokerage firm in federal court lawsuit in Seattle alleging federal and state securities fraud and other state common law and statutory liability. Obtained summary judgment dismissal of claims against client brokerage firm, notwithstanding that rep had defalcated plaintiffs’ funds. Defended appeal of national interest when Ninth Circuit altered controlling person liability test, then settled on remand. 
  • In re WPPSS Securities Litigation
    Case No. MDL No. 551
    Acted as securities litigation strategist on team defending Oregon Public Utility Districts in $2.2B class action brought by thousands of public utility bond purchasers and procured extremely favorable settlement.
  • Omnicare, Inc. v. Laborers District Council Construction Industry Pension Fund
    U.S. Supreme CourtDistrict of Columbia
    Principal author of amicus brief in the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of the Washington Legal Foundation, helping to establish the standard for when a statement of opinion will be considered false under the federal securities laws.
  • Schonfield v. Dendreon Corporation*
    Case No. 2:07-cv-00800-MJPU.S. District Court, Western District of WashingtonSeattle, Washington
    Represented company and individual defendants in defense of securities class action.
  • Sabbagh v. Cell Therapeutics*
    Case No. 2:10-cv-00414-MJPU.S. District Court, Western District of WashingtonSeattle, Washington
    Represented company and individual defendants in defense of securities class action.
  • In re Washington Mutual Inc. Securities, Derivative & ERISA Litigation*
    Case No. 2:08-md-01919-MJPU.S. District Court, Western District of WashingtonSeattle, Washington
    Represented former head of Washington Mutual Kerry Killinger in defending against securities and derivative actions related to alleged securities fraud.
  • Plumbers Union Local No. 12 Pension Fund v. Ambassadors Group*
    Case No. 2:09-cv-00214-JLQU.S. District Court, Eastern District of WashingtonSpokane, Washington
    Represented company and individual defendants in defense of securities class action.
  • Saltzman v. Jones Soda Company/ Bryan P. Sexton, Derivatively on Behalf of Jones Soda Co. v. Peter M. Van Stolk et al./ Jon Baum, Derivatively on Behalf of Jones Soda Co. v. Peter M. Van Stolk et al.*
    Case No. 2:07-cv-01366-RSL / 2:07-cv-01782-RSL / 2:08-cv-00018-RSLU.S. District Court, Western District of WashingtonSeattle, Washington
    Represented company and individual defendants in defense of securities class action and related derivative action.
  • Svetlana Belova, Derivatively on Behalf of TriQuint Semiconductor, Inc. v. Steven J. Sharp et al.*
    Case No. 3:07-cv-00299-MOU.S. District Court, District of OregonPortland, Oregon
    Represented company and individual defendants in defense of derivative action related to securities fraud allegations.
  • McLain v. WSB Financial Group Inc.*
    Case No. 2:07-cv-01747-RAJ / 3:07-cv-05618-RAJ / 3:07-cv-05620-RAJ / 2:07-cv-02067-RAJU.S. District Court, Western District of WashingtonSeattle, Washington
    Represented company in defense of securities class action.
  • Network v. CES
    Case No. 2:17-cv-01589U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington
    Defended federal securities fraud claim in Case 2:17-cv-01589-RAJ Network Acquisition Partnership Alliance, LLC v. CES Properties, Inc. et al., brought by purchaser of real estate LLCs seeking $1.3 million. Developed defenses and counterclaims for larger amount that led to very favorable settlement at early mediation.
* Denotes experience at a previous firm

Our Insights

  • January 3, 2022News
    Congratulations to Lane Powell Retiree Milo Petranovich
    Firm Announcement
  • August 19, 2021News
    The Best Lawyers in America© 2022 Recognizes 90 Lane Powell Attorneys
    Awards & Honors
  • August 20, 2020News
    The Best Lawyers in America© 2021 Recognizes 92 Lane Powell Attorneys
    Awards & Honors
  • August 15, 2019News
    The Best Lawyers in America© 2020 Recognizes 63 Lane Powell Attorneys
    Awards & Honors
  • June 10, 2019News
    Thirty-one Lane Powell Attorneys Named ‘Washington Super Lawyers’ and Nine Named ‘Washington Rising Stars’
    Awards & Honors
  • October 12, 2018News
    Lane Powell Highly Recommended in Benchmark Litigation 2019
    Awards & Honors
  • August 15, 2018News
    The Best Lawyers in America© 2019 Recognizes 62 Lane Powell Attorneys
    Awards & Honors
  • June 18, 2018News
    Thirty-two Lane Powell Attorneys Named ‘Washington Super Lawyers’ and 14 Named ‘Washington Rising Stars’
    Awards & Honors
  • May 4, 2018Event / CLE
    Program Chair, 38th Annual Northwest Securities Institute
    Washington State Bar Association
  • August 15, 2017News
    Fifty-nine Lane Powell Attorneys Named in The Best Lawyers® in America 2018
    Awards & Honors
  • August 1, 2017News
    Washburn Quoted in Law360 About Antitrust Takeaways in Petrobras Ruling
    In the News
  • July 21, 2017Publication
    Second Circuit Applies Morrison to Rule 23 Predominance Analysis, in In re Petrobras Securities, but Rejects Third Circuit's "Heightened" Ascertainability Requirement (July 7, 2017)
    Securities Litigation Legal Update
  • June 22, 2017Publication
    1st Circuit Clarifies Scienter Requirements
    Law360
  • June 9, 2017News
    Thirty-one Lane Powell Attorneys Named ‘Washington Super Lawyers’ and 16 Named ‘Washington Rising Stars’
    Awards & Honors
  • May 1, 2017Publication
    First Circuit Holds that Scienter Requires Knowledge That Non-Disclosure Risked Misleading Investors, Not Just Knowledge of Omitted Facts, in Brennan v. Zafgen, Inc. (April 7, 2017)
    Securities Litigation Legal Update
  • January 20, 2017Publication
    Great Expectations: First Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Complaint Challenging Unrealized Projections, in Ganem v. InVivo (January 9, 2017)
    Securities Litigation Legal Update
  • November 21, 2016News
    Washburn Admitted to Washington State Bar
    Awards & Honors
  • August 17, 2016News
    Fifty-one Lane Powell Attorneys Named in The Best Lawyers in America® 2017
    Awards & Honors
  • June 14, 2016Publication
    Sixth Circuit Affirms Dismissal on Scienter Grounds in Doshi v. Gen'l Cable Corp. (May 24, 2016)
    Securities Litigation Legal Update
  • June 7, 2016Publication
    Eighth Circuit Becomes First Appeals Court to Interpret Halliburton II in IBEW Local 98 Pension Fund, et al. v. Best Buy Co., Inc. (April 12, 2016)
    Securities Litigation Legal Update
  • November 17, 2015News
    Lane Powell Obtains Motion to Dismiss for JP Morgan Securities
    Firm Announcement
  • August 17, 2015News
    Forty-eight Lane Powell Attorneys Named in The Best Lawyers in America® 2016
    Awards & Honors
  • June 12, 2015News
    Thirty-two Lane Powell Attorneys Named ‘Washington Super Lawyers’ and 11 Named as ‘Washington Rising Stars’
    Awards & Honors
  • August 18, 2014News
    Fifty-One Lane Powell Attorneys Named in The Best Lawyers in America® 2015
    Awards & Honors
  • July 9, 2014News
    Fifteen Lane Powell Attorneys Named ‘Oregon Super Lawyers’ and Five Named as ‘Oregon Rising Stars’
    Awards & Honors
  • June 13, 2014News
    Thirty-five Lane Powell Attorneys Named ‘Washington Super Lawyers’ and Fifteen Named as ‘Washington Rising Stars’
    Awards & Honors
  • June 14, 2013News
    Thirty-Six Lane Powell Attorneys Named ‘Washington Super Lawyers’ and Sixteen Named as ‘Washington Rising Stars’
    Awards & Honors
  • June 13, 2012News
    28 Lane Powell Attorneys Named ‘Washington Super Lawyers;’ 12 Named as ‘Washington Rising Stars’
    Awards & Honors
  • August 9, 2011News
    Thirty-six Lane Powell Attorneys Listed as Top Lawyers in Seattle Metropolitan Magazine
    Awards & Honors

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