​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​E​​​​W​ELL  |  BROWN  |  BLANKE  |  KNIGHT

​​​​           back-dated stock options, including a special committee investigation culminating in restated financial statements, a NASDAQ delisting  proceeding in                            which the company prevailed, an SEC investigation that concluded with no action taken, and shareholders’ derivative suits  that settled with the plaintiffs'                        attorneys waiving their fee claims and the company receiving $2.85 million, In re Cirrus Logic Inc., No. 07- 00212, slip op. (W.D. Tex. May 28, 2009); Amanda              Bronstad, Attorneys Drop Fees in Shareholder Case Alleging Backdating, The National Law Journal, March 31, 2009.
  • Served as lead counsel for a medical device company former executive in series of investigations and proceedings over alleged inflating of revenues, including a consolidated class action in which the securities control person claims against him were dismissed, In re Arthrocare Securities Litigation, 726 F. Supp. 2d 696, 729-31 (W.D. Tex. 2010), an SEC enforcement action that settled immediately on favorable terms, SEC v. Raffle, No. 1:11-CV-540 (W.D. Tex. July 11, 2011), and a DOJ criminal prosecution concluded by plea agreement, U.S. v. Raffle, No. 1:12-CR-314-SS (W.D. Tex. May 9, 2013).
  • Acted as lead counsel for institutional investors seeking recovery of their $1.2 billion investment in an internet incubator before the SEC in proceeding to revoke the incubator's exemption from the Investment Advisors Act of 1940 Act and before a Los Angeles Superior Court in high profile dissolution litigation. See, e.g., Erika Brown, Angry Investors Seek to Liquidate Idealab, Forbes, December 30, 2002. Following successful interlocutory appeal on issues of first impression under California's dissolution statute, Kline Hawkes California SBIC v. Superior Court, 117 Cal. App. 4th 183, 11 Cal. Rptr. 3d 581 (2004), the investors settled on terms permitting an "exit event" return of their capital.
  • Obtained dismissal of a putative class action against underwriters brought under Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 over the adequacy of internal controls, improper revenue recognition, and undisclosed sales and product problems, Alcina v. pcOrder.com, Inc., 230 F. Supp. 2d 732 (W.D. Tex. 2002), succeeded in opposing class certification in a companion case under Section 11 of the Securities Act of 1933, Krim v. pcOrder.com, Inc., 210 F.R.D. 581 (W.D. Tex. 2002), and obtained dismissal of the remaining claims, Krim v. pcOrder.com, Inc., 1:00-cv-00776-SS, 2003 WL 21076787 (W.D. Tex. May 5, 2003), aff’d, 402 F.3d 489 (5th Cir. 2005).
  • Served as lead trial counsel for microprocessor manufacturer in obtaining summary judgment on purchaser's claims of deceptive trade practice, breach of contract, fraud, and negligent misrepresentation, Hugh Symons Group, PLC v. Motorola, Inc., 292 F.3d 466 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 537 U.S. 950 (2002).
  • Served as lead trial counsel for alcoholic beverage wholesaler and distributor in obtaining a judgment declaring the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code's one-year residential and citizenship requirements unconstitutional as a violation of the Commerce Clause, Southern Wine and Spirits of Texas, Inc. v. Steen, 486 F. Supp. 2d 626 (W.D. Tex. 2007).
  • Served as lead trial counsel in litigation over stock options awarded to financial consultant in connection with a company's initial public offering, Woelke v. Pacific Gateway Exchange, Civil Action No. 4-99CV-0166Y (N.D. Tex.).
  • Represented major airline in derivative suits and consumer class actions over allegedly uninspected fuselages, Kleiner v. Southwest Airlines Co., No. 5:08-CV-00218-WRF, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 122232 (W.D. Tex. Nov. 4, 2008).
  • Represented UBS Investment Bank and affiliates in various business tort actions.
  • Represented a leading medical research foundation in successfully obtaining financial support against related research institution, in lawsuit requiring judicial interpretation of long-suppressed charitable trust documents.
  • Represented a leading promoter of mixed martial arts events in regulatory matters involving the Texas combative sports licensing authority.
  • Served as lead counsel for a national title insurance company in the Texas Attorney General's investigation into mortgage foreclosure practices.


*Includes matters prior to forming EBB. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

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  • ​Representation of former Wal-Mart executive in the Department of Justice's Foreign Corrupt Practices Act investigations of Wal-Mart's foreign operations.
  • Serving as lead counsel for public employee pension​ fund in lawsuit against hedge fund for fraud and breach of fiduciary duties.
  • Served as lead counsel for public company in investigations and proceedings involving allegations of

Representative Experience