Handling class actions, shareholder derivative litigation, investigations, criminal prosecutions, and administrative proceedings, clients praise Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP as ‘an excellent team with true subject matter expertise’. The firm has particularly deep knowledge of the accounting sector. The practice is led from Washington DC by Kevin Abikoff and from New York by Shahzeb Lari and ‘superb trial attorney’ Marc Weinstein. Abikoff and Lari are currently representing oilfield services company ProPetro Holding Corp. in a class action. New York-based William Maguire, chairs the professional liability practice, is frequently involved in high-profile auditor liability matters. Terence Healy, who works from both DC and New York, is ‘super savvy’.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Excellent team with true subject matter expertise. Great team of associates at the ready. ’

  • ‘Marc Weinstein - superb trial attorney but also very adept at dealing with the DOJ and SEC so that clients avoid enforcement actions. Terence Healy - very strong reputation and super savvy.'

Key clients

  • ProPetro Holding Corp.
  • Joseph Ianello
  • Former Nikola CEO Trevor Milton
  • Pioneer Natural Resources Company
  • Kensington Capital Acquisition Corp.
  • Adam Gilchrist, co-founder and CEO of F45 Training Holdings, Inc.
  • Utopia Music Holdings (US), Inc. and Utopia Music AG
  • Cornerstone Asset Management

Work highlights

  • Representing Stuart Fraser, Vice Chairman of Cantor Fitzgerald, in a securities fraud class-action civil suit accusing two cryptocurrency mining companies, GAW Miners and ZenMiner, and their founder, Josh Garza, of defrauding customers and investors in a Ponzi scheme. On November 3, 2021, we obtained a full defense verdict. HHR successfully defended the jury’s verdict as to Hashlets, Hashpoints and Hashstakers; on June 3, 2022, the District Court judge ordered a new trial, only with respect to Paycoin. Trial is scheduled to begin on December 7, 2022.
  • Representing Nikola founder Trevor Milton in parallel DOJ and SEC actions alleging wire fraud and securities fraud related to the startup truck maker. On July 29, Milton pleaded not guilty to criminal charges of misleading investors about Nikola’s technology for battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Milton was found guilty in Manhattan federal court on October 14th, 2022, for three of four counts of fraud which relate to false statements he made to drive up the value of Nikola’s stock.
  • Currently represent Joseph Ianniello, former President and Acting CEO of CBS, in shareholder class action and derivative litigation in Delaware Chancery Court concerning the $15 billion merger of CBS with Viacom to create ViacomCBS. In April 2023 the parties reached a settlement, which awaits approval by the Court.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Kevin Abikoff, Shahzeb Lari, Marc Weinstein

Other key lawyers

William Maguire, Terence Healy