2019 Developments in Securities and M&A Litigation

Cleary Gottlieb’s “2019 Developments in Securities and M&A Litigation” discusses major developments from 2019 and highlights significant decisions and trends ahead.

In Lorenzo, the most significant securities decision of 2019, the Supreme Court clarified the scope of “scheme liability” under Rule 10b-5(a) and (c). The Court also declined to rule on several significant issues arising from the Ninth Circuit, including whether plaintiffs must show that the defendant acted with scienter when bringing claims under Section 14(e), whether Morrison extends to unsponsored American Depositary Receipts, and the standard for establishing loss causation. The Court also denied certiorari in SEC v. Scoville, in which the Tenth Circuit held that the Dodd-Frank Act permits the SEC to bring fraud claims or claims under Section 17 of the Securities Act based on sales of securities that do not constitute domestic transactions within the meaning of Morrison. With respect to M&A litigation, the Delaware Supreme Court continued to clarify its jurisprudence with respect to appraisal methodology as well as the protection MFW affords to controlled transactions. The Court also released important opinions pertaining to oversight duties for boards of directors and the fiduciary duties of activist investors.

Please click here a PDF version of 2019 Developments in Securities and M&A Litigation. This article was also republished by the Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance.