Complex Securities Litigation

This course is an introduction to securities litigation, with a focus on the practical and strategic considerations a litigator confronts in handling what are often high-stakes, high-profile matters. The course will provide an overview of the elements of various types of securities claims, including statutory and common law fraud claims, claims under the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and state Blue Sky laws, and statutes governing the conduct of securities cases, including the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act (028PSLRA029) and the Securities Litigation Uniform Standards Act (028SLUSA029). We will discuss the different stages in the life of a securities suit and some of the factors counsel on both sides need to evaluate in deciding how best to prosecute and defend these actions. The reading will include treatise excerpts, judicial decisions, and sample pleadings and briefs. There will be written assignments, mock exercises (oral arguments and deposition practice), and a final exam.

Grading and Method of Evaluation:
Letter grade with pass/fail option. Written and oral assignments will be required and a final exam will be given.

• Corporations.