Clients praise DLA Piper LLP (US) for its ‘excellent subject matter expertise’. The firm is best known for its work on behalf of companies in the life sciences, financial services, insurance and technology sectors. The co-chairs of the practice, John Clarke in New York and Melanie Walker in Los Angeles, are highly respected for complex litigation and internal investigations involving securities and financial instruments. Experienced LA-based partner Richard Zelichov is ’extremely diligent and very creative’. He recently assisted former officers of Workhorse with the resolution of a securities class and nine derivative suits concerning statements about its participation in the proposal process for a next generation delivery vehicle for the USPS. Seasoned trial and appellate lawyer John Hillebrecht in New York and former SEC attorney Jason Lewis in Dallas are also key members of the practice.
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Worked well with the company to identify and achieve best outcome.’
‘Excellent subject matter expertise. Very efficient approach.’
'Richard Zelichov is an outstanding lawyer. He is as knowledgeable as anyone in the field about securities laws and securities regulation. He is extremely diligent and really cares about his clients. He is also very creative.'
Key clients
- Hain Celestial Group, Inc., The
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
- Plug Power Inc.
- Japan NuScale Innovation
- GigAcquisitions2, LLC
- GigAcquisitions3, LLC
- Black Girls CODE
- Goldman Sachs & Co. et al. (Athira Pharma)
- Ernest Garcia II (founder of Carvana Corporation)
- Noble Capital
- Abengoa, S.A.
- SolarWinds Corp.
- B. Riley Securities, Inc.
Work highlights
- Representing The Hain Celestial Group, Inc., a natural and organic food company, and four of its former senior officers in a putative class action pending in the US District Court for the Eastern District of NewYork asserting claims of securities fraud. The case illustrates the firm's ability to address complex accounting claims and respond adeptly to procedural developments.
- Representing Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (BMS) and its present and former directors and officers in three putative class actions asserting claims on behalf of investors in a series of publicly traded contingent value rights (CVRs).
- Representing Plug Power Inc., the creator of the first commercially viable market for hydrogen fuel cell technology, in an action asserting securities fraud claims on behalf of a putative class of investors in Plug Power common stock filed in the US District Court for the District of Delaware.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
John Clarke, Melanie Walker