Activist Investor – SEC Insider Trading Investigation
Successfully defended a principal of a prominent activist fund in an insider trading investigation conducted by the SEC.
Successfully defended a principal of a prominent activist fund in an insider trading investigation conducted by the SEC.
Represented the former CEO of a public telecommunications company in two securities fraud class actions stemming from the company's bankruptcy. The first complaint alleged fraud in connection with disclosures about the company's credit facility. The plaintiffs then filed a second class action alleging that our client engaged in accounting improprieties and caused the company to issue false financial statements. The court granted our motion to dismiss the second complaint, and we were able to obtain a settlement of the entire matter on terms that were very favorable to our client.
Representing a stock promoter in wide-ranging investigations by the Department of Justice and the SEC of securities fraud in the promotion and potential manipulation of the stocks of various start-up companies.
Successfully represented an executive in a New York State Attorney General investigation into financial improprieties and conflicts of interest.
Represented key figure in the Government’s investigation of and prosecutions in the college admissions scandal known as the “Varsity Blues” case.
Successfully represented a Turkish lender in connection with efforts by the United Department of Justice and Treasury Department, incidental to the investigation and prosecution of a third party by the U.S., to seize the lender’s security interest in a foreign vessel.
Herrick represented former Guatemalan President Alfonso Portillo in defense of a federal money laundering conspiracy charge and other charges following his extradition to the United States. President Portillo pled guilty to a reduced charge and other charges following successful negotiations with the U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York. Herrick then successfully argued to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons that it credit time already served by President Portillo - including time served in Guatemala while awaiting extradition - to his sentence, greatly reducing the period of incarceration ultimately served.
Successfully represented a hedge fund manager and his fund in an SEC insider trading investigation involving a US-based, multinational technology company and the alleged intentional manipulation of securities prices through the creation and spreading of false information. The investigation concluded with the issuance of a no-action letter from the SEC.
Representing a securities trader in a Department of Justice criminal action and a related SEC civil action where our client is charged with participating in an insider trading scheme in which the securities of public companies were sold short in advance of secondary offerings, allegedly based upon material, non-public information. In the criminal case, our client recently received a sentence of Probation.
Represented a prominent former New York City attorney in a joint federal criminal investigation, conducted by the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Columbia and the SEC, into alleged misappropriation of funds of a large foreign public company and market manipulation of the securities of several small U.S. public companies. Herrick was able to resolve the federal criminal charges against our client through a guilty plea to a single count of obstruction of justice. The client was sentenced to two years of probation, later reduced to one year. Notwithstanding the criminal charges involving the sale of securities, the SEC did not bring charges.
Successful representation of two former principals of a dissolved hedge fund in an investigation by the US Attorney’s Office and the SEC into a high-profile "pump-and-dump" scheme involving shares in a Bermuda-based reinsurance company and nearly $20 million in alleged illegal profits. The investigation, which led to the criminal indictment of 7 individuals for securities fraud, resulted in no charges against our clients.
Achieved a highly favorable settlement involving no admission of wrongdoing on behalf of a real estate developer and two of its principals in an investigation by the New York State Attorney General into alleged improper lead removal procedures and harassment of tenants.
Representation of the chief operating officer of a $1 billion hedge fund in connection with an SEC investigation into the fund's collapse and liquidation.
The former CEO of a major fiber optic company in an SEC investigation of accounting irregularities. After a grueling deposition and an in-depth Wells Submission, the SEC determined not to pursue any action against our client.
Representation of the branch manager of a regional brokerage firm in an NASD regulatory investigation into improper market timing activities that allegedly occurred in the branch office. No charges were brought against the branch manager.
Representation of a department head of a national exchange's regulatory division in an SEC investigation into the exchange's failure to enforce its member surveillance program and filing false records with the SEC. The former department head received a cease-and-desist order with no monetary penalties assessed against him.
Representation of a broker in an NYSE regulatory investigation alleging that the broker forged managerial signatures on new accounts forms and disposed of original employer documents. The broker received an admonition letter in lieu of an enforcement proceeding being brought against him.
Representation of a former trader at a national retail brokerage firm in a FINRA regulatory investigation into charges of front-running one of the firm's customers.
Representation of a former employee of a major investment bank in a FINRA regulatory proceeding on charges that he misappropriated funds from his employer by improperly submitting personal expenses as business-related expenses.
The principal of a securities trader/broker-dealer in connection with investigations by the New York State Attorney General and the SEC into mutual fund trading practices including market timing and late trading.
Represented the former Executive Vice President of a large manufacturing company in an internal investigation of alleged materials theft.
Representing the developer of a New York City outlet mall in an investigation into whether the Empire State Development Corporation’s financial support for economic development projects has been influenced by developer political contributions.
Represented a regional accounting firm as a witness in an SEC investigation into accounting irregularities at a publicly traded internet consumer products company.
Successful defense of a branch manager of a national retail brokerage firm. Following a hearing, the hearing panel dismissed all of the NASD's charges, including allegations of supervisory failures. The dismissal was upheld on appeal by the NASD to the NASD's National Adjudicatory Council.
Representation of a national retail brokerage firm in a joint U.S. Attorney/SEC investigation of illegal "frontrunning" trading activity.
Represented the senior management of a pharmaceutical company in an SEC insider trading investigation of a PIPE offering.
Conducted an internal investigation for a major international financial services corporation concerning allegations that company employees had provided false customer account information to another financial institution. We also represented the company in a related New York state grand jury investigation.
Conducted an insider trading investigation on behalf of the boards of directors of two affiliated publicly owned computer software companies, and represented them in a related SEC investigation.
Representation of a foreign citizen in connection with an indictment by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and an SEC investigation alleging market manipulation of multiple OTC securities in the U.S. markets via the internet.
Representation of multiple stock brokers of a national retail brokerage firm in a FINRA investigation into various sales practice violations.
Herrick negotiated a favorable settlement on behalf of three directors of a failed New York City community bank, resolving claims by the FDIC that the directors had failed to exercise due care in their oversight of the bank's loan portfolio.
Represented a broker dealer and proprietary trading firm in connection with an SEC insider trading investigation. Succeeded in having no actions brought by either arm of the government.
Representation of a business executive in an SEC civil securities fraud matter alleging participation in a pump-and-dump scheme involving two penny stocks.
Herrick successfully represented a business executive in parallel criminal and civil insider trading investigations conducted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York and the SEC, in connection with allegations that our client and four other defendants used illegal tips to trade in the stock of a company prior to it being taken private in a multibillion dollar deal. Herrick was able to resolve the SEC claims with a favorable settlement which involved no admission of wrongdoing, and obtained no prosecution with the U.S. Attorney's Office.
We represented a senior executive investment advisor formerly associated with the now infamous Stanford Financial Group in a Securities and Exchange Commission investigation. In 2011, the SEC issued a Wells Notice concerning our client's alleged fraudulent disclosures and affirmative misrepresentations in the sales of Stanford International Bank CDs, allegedly a massive Ponzi scheme. After making two submissions in response to the Wells Notice and an oral presentation to the staff at the SEC's Fort Worth office, we successfully persuaded the SEC to issue a no-action letter stating that it will not bring any charges against the client.
Representation of the branch manager of a national retail brokerage firm in a FINRA investigation involving the failure to supervise in connection with a major defalcation from a customer account by an administrative employee.
Representation of an executive of a national retail brokerage firm in a joint U.S. Attorney and SEC action alleging fraud in connection with securities lending.
Represented a defendant charged with insider trading by the Securities Exchange Commission.
Representation of Robert W. Seavey, real estate developer and owner, in obtaining a U.S. District Court summary judgment dismissing a $500 million RICO case. The suit also named members of his family, the management company and accounting firm. The court found that the plaintiffs and their forensic accounting firm had failed to find any evidence supporting their claims. The decision appears to be the first New York decision that found that the federal bank fraud statute cannot serve as a predicate act in a RICO case when the plaintiff is not a financial institution. All state court claims were dismissed.
Representation of the Audit Committee of a New York Stock Exchange listed company to conduct an internal investigation of whistleblower claims brought by a former officer alleging that certain officers and directors had committed accounting fraud and violated the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
Represented four account executives in an FINRA investigation alleging the falsification of records during a raiding dispute.
Herrick successfully represented a financial services firm and key executives in a joint SEC and US Attorney's insider trading investigation related to the purchase of shares in multiple pharmaceutical companies, both domestic and foreign, prior to announcements of multibillion dollar mergers. The investigation concluded with no action taken against our clients.
Representation of a major international insurer in a FINRA arbitration brought by a group of customers alleging improper selling- away by an account executive.
Represented international insurance carrier in its attempts to recover a two million dollar indebtedness from a former account executive.
Representation of a business executive charged by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York with conspiring to bribe a public official and money laundering. Resulted in the U.S. Attorneys' Office determining to drop all charges against our client.