Scrutiny of publicly held companies and the risk of civil lawsuits and regulatory investigations have never been higher. For years, Godfrey & Kahn has regularly represented clients in complex securities litigation. Examples include:

• Defending companies and their directors and officers in shareholder class actions and other federal and state securities law disputes
• Representing corporations in civil lawsuits alleging securities fraud arising from business failures, failed private placements and unsuccessful stock offerings
• Defending targets and representing witnesses in regulatory enforcement actions

Our trial lawyers regularly counsel and represent publicly traded and closely held businesses and their owners in other litigation involving company internal affairs and governance. Examples include:

• Actions for breach of fiduciary responsibility
• Various control disputes, including proxy contests, attempted receiverships and hostile takeovers
• Shareholder derivative suits, corporate dissolutions and demands for inspection of corporate records
• Dissenters' rights litigation, including fair value determinations and squeeze-out mergers

Our attorneys also assist the boards of directors for both public and private companies in structuring and conducting internal investigations by various special committees.