Thomas V. Christopher

Thomas V. Christopher represents clients in complex litigation in state and federal courts involving a wide range of corporate, commercial and securities matters. Mr. Christopher has experience defending clients for alleged violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Securities Act of 1933 and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). He also has defended corporate officers and directors in cases alleging breaches of the duties of care, loyalty and candor in connection with their consideration of certain significant corporate transactions. Mr. Christopher’s broad range of litigation experience also includes litigating employment, contract and trademark disputes. A former in-house counsel to a Fortune 50 financial firm, Mr. Christopher also has experience representing financial institutions in investigations by, and matters pending before, the New York Stock Exchange and FINRA.

Mr. Christopher’s representations have included:

• successfully arguing an appeal before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on behalf of the former CEO of a Fortune 500 company defending claims regarding alleged insider trading.
• Broadcom Corporation in connection with claims arising from its announcement of the entry into a definitive merger agreement with NetLogic Microsystems, Inc.
• the board of directors of Hewlett-Packard in connection with various litigation matters in federal and state court.
• Chiron Corporation and certain members of Chiron’s board of directors in connection with claims that they breached their fiduciary duties in connection with their consideration of an offer by Novartis AG to acquire all of Chiron’s outstanding shares.
• a large university in connection with claims of alleged employment discrimination/unlawful termination by a former employee.
• the audit committee of the board of directors of a large publicly traded company in connection with an inquiry into the company’s stock option dating practices.
• McKesson Corporation in defending numerous lawsuits in federal and state court arising out of its acquisition of HBO & Company and subsequent announcement of the need to restate financial results.
• The Jim Pattison Group and a JPG U.S. subsidiary, engaged in the wholesale distribution of books and periodicals in Northern California, in connection with claims that they and other market participants unlawfully engaged in below-cost pricing in order to drive a competitor out of business.

Bar Admissions