John A. Valentine

is a partner in the firm's Securities and Litigation/Controversy Departments, and a member of the Securities Litigation and Enforcement Practice Group and the Business Trial Group. He joined the firm in 2000. His practice focuses on a variety of corporate litigation, including shareholder class actions and derivative actions, as well as investigations by the SEC and other government agencies.

Practice

Mr. Valentine has represented corporations, financial institutions, broker-dealers, accounting firms, private equity firms and individual clients in both trial and appellate litigation involving primarily securities law and corporate issues. He has substantial experience in various types of corporate litigation, with a special focus on complex securities litigation, shareholder class actions, derivative litigation, securities-related ERISA class actions and bankruptcy adversary proceedings, and litigation involving structured financial products. In government proceedings, Mr. Valentine has represented clients in investigations and enforcement proceedings by the SEC, OCC and other government agencies concerning insider trading, accounting and auditing practices, disclosure issues, adequacy of books and records, management conduct, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, broker-dealer regulatory compliance, auditor independence, “unsafe and unsound” banking practices and anti-money laundering (AML) issues. He also has experience in conducting internal investigations and advising clients on corporate governance issues and proxy contests.