Greg Ballard

• Served as trial counsel in PCAOB hearing for respondent who was found not liable on all charges.*
• Served as trial counsel for accounting firms in multiple arbitrations involving allegations of professional malpractice in the U.S. and internationally.*
• Argued many successful motions for dismissal and summary judgment for accounting firm clients in cases involving allegations of professional malpractice.*
• Represented a Big Four accounting firm in an arbitration brought by claimants alleging malpractice in audits of financial statements of hedge funds that invested with Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities. Judgment in favor of accounting firm.*
• Represented a Big Four accounting firm in a Madoff-related class action securities litigation. Judgment dismissing all claims against accounting firm, affirmed on appeal.*
• Served as lead trial counsel for a lender and underwriter of asset-backed notes in litigation arising out of the collapse of specialty finance company DVI.*
• Represented several underwriters in securities litigation relating to WorldCom.*
• Represented a financial institution in multi-district securities litigation relating to Enron.*
• Represented underwriters in class and derivative actions arising out of a 40 percent decline in the price of Perrigo stock in a single day after the then-largest offering in NASDAQ history. Summary judgment granted for underwriters on all claims; due diligence defense established for claims under Securities Act of 1933.*
• Represented an employer in an action under the Fair Labor Standards Act and under the New York Labor Law for alleged violation of overtime pay requirements. Summary judgment granted in favor of employer.*
• Served as lead trial counsel in hearing on an application for prejudgment remedy in breach of contract action in state court.*
• Represented the seller and individual defendants in state and federal court actions related to the US$38.5 billion sale of Nestlé S.A.’s interest in Alcon, Inc. to Novartis AG.*
• Represented an underwriter in multi-district litigation arising out of numerous IPOs.*
• Represented an asset management firm in litigation arising out of investment accounts. Summary judgment granted for asset management firm.*
• Represented the owner of the New York Mets in a breach of contract action. Summary judgment for owner.*
• Represented telephone companies in litigation brought by plaintiffs seeking to enjoin US$72 billion merger of Comcast with AT&T’s broadband business. Motion to dismiss granted.*

*Includes matters handled prior to joining the firm.

• Best Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation, 2023-2026
• LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell, AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated
• Super Lawyer, New York, 2007-2011, 2024-2025
• Burton Award for Legal Achievement, 2007
• Legal Aid Society, Pro Bono Publico Award, 1997

“Think Twice Before You Forward That Email! Practical implications of the Supreme Court’s latest take on ‘scheme’ liability,” New York Law Journal (July 12, 2019)

 “Law and Practice under Rule 102(e),” The Review of Securities & Commodities Regulation (August 19, 2015).

“Reforming New York State’s Ethics Laws the Right Way: Report of the New York City Bar Association Committee on State Affairs and Committee on Government Ethics” (February 2010).

“The Association of the Bar of the City of New York, Report on Legislation by the Committee on State Affairs, the Committee on Government Ethics and the Committee on Professional Responsibility: Reforming New York State’s Financial Disclosure Requirements for Attorney-Legislators” (January 2010).

“Obstacles to Successful Financial Markets Reform: Past Legacies and Present Challenges,” Financial Market Reform (Thomson West 2009).

“Pleading and Proving Corporate Scienter after Dynex,” Securities Law 360 (July 15, 2008)

“The Supreme Court’s Decision in Stoneridge: The End of ‘Scheme’ Liability and Signs of What’s to Come in Future Securities Litigation,” in Instant Awareness: An Immediate Look at the Legal, Governmental, and Economic Ramifications of Stoneridge Investment Partners v. Scientific Atlanta” (Thomson/Aspatore Books 2008)

“Living with the New Rules Governing Electronic Discovery,” Instant Awareness: An Immediate Look at the Legal, Governmental, and Economic Ramifications of the Amendments to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and Electronic Discovery (Thomson/Aspatore Books 2008)

“The Importance of Stoneridge,” 39^th Annual Institute on Securities Regulation (Practising Law Institute November 2007)

“Should You Sue Over a Term Sheet?,” The Practical Litigator (ALI-ABA July 2007)

“Imperfect Scheme,” The Deal (June 18, 2007)

“When can financial institutions be liable for federal securities fraud in connection with securities issued by others: The uncertain state of the law,” International Journal of Disclosure and Governance, Vol. 4, No. 2 (Palgrave Macmillan May 2007)

“Don’t Blame the Culprit’s Bank,” Legal Times (April 30, 2007)

“Strong Inference,” National Law Journal (February 19, 2007)

“Getting Out of Trouble and Avoiding It in the Future,” Inside the Minds: Best Practices for Securities Litigation – Leading Lawyers on Maintaining Regulatory Compliance, Reporting Financial Disclosures, and Working with Government Agencies (Aspatore Books 2007)

“Makor Issues & Rights, Ltd. v. Tellabs, Inc.: The Seventh Circuit Re-Examines Scienter and Other Elements of Section 10(b) in Light of the PSLRA,” Securities Regulation Law Journal, Vol. 34 (Winter 2006)

In re Charter Communications, Inc. Securities Litigation and Simpson v. AOL Time Warner Inc.: Circuits Split Over the Validity of ‘Scheme’ Liability Under Section 10(b),” Securities Regulation Law Journal, Vol. 34 (Winter 2006)

“Defending Claims Against Underwriters of Asset-Backed Securities: The Due Diligence Defense,” Andrews Derivatives Litigation Reporter (November 27, 2006), reprinted in Andrews Securities Litigation and Regulation Reporter (December 27, 2006)

“Primary Violators, Aidors and Abettors and Manipulative Schemes under Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,” Managing Complex Litigation: Legal Strategies and Best Practices in “High-Stakes” Cases (Practising Law Institute November 2006)

“10b-5 ‘Scheme’ Liability,” National Law Journal (November 13, 2006)

“The Evolution of ‘Scheme Liability’ under Section 10(b),” 38^th Annual Institute on Securities Regulation, Vol. 2:991 (Practising Law Institute November 2006)

Outside Counsel Column, “The SEC’s New Rules of Practice,” New York Law Journal (August 3, 1995)

“The SEC Proposes New Rules of Practice: Changed Procedures Designed to Promote Greater Efficiency,” New York Law Journal (February 22, 1994)

“Application of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act to Runoff Primary Election Laws,” 91 Columbia Law Review 1127 (June 1991) [cited in Holder v. Hall, 512 U.S. 874, 888 (1994) (O’Conner, J., concurring)]