Recent Trial Experience

• Defended AVX Corporation in a multi-district class-action anti-trust litigation, titled In re Capacitors Antitrust Litigation, C.A. No. 3:17-md-2801-JD (N.D. Cal.).  After two weeks of trial, AVX was able to settle all of the claims asserted against it on favorable terms. 
• Served as trial counsel for Oxbow Carbon LLC in litigation against its minority investors who sought to force a sale of the $3+ billion company.  After prevailing at summary judgment, and then proceeding through trial, Bret then helped Oxbow achieve a full victory before the Delaware Supreme Court in Oxbow Carbon and Minerals Holdings Inc. et al. v. Crestview-Oxbow Acquisition, LLC et al., No. 536, 2018 (Del. Jan. 17, 2019).

Securities Law and Financial Services Litigation Experience

• Successfully represented the CEO of a biotech company in a purported securities class action by defeating class certification.  In re Organogeneisis Sec. Litig., 241 F.R.D. 397 (2007).
• Negotiated a dismissal (without any payment by client) of all claims brought against broker-dealer client in connection with the sale of interests in various hedge funds that turned out to be feeder funds into the Tom Petters Ponzi scheme.
• Obtained summary judgment on claims brought by broker-dealer client against hedge fund manager for non-payment of fees earned for raising over $100 million in capital for the hedge fund.
• Represented founder of a hedge fund in litigation against the seed investors in the hedge fund’s management company.  Negotiated a favorable settlement on the eve of trial.
• Represented hedge fund client in dispute against former auditors for professional malpractice.  Negotiated a favorable settlement on behalf of the client.
• Obtained the dismissal of most claims brought against a distributor of variable annuities by a client alleging various claims in connection with his purchase of a variable annuity.  Negotiated a favorable settlement on the remaining claims.
• Represented Belgian bank Dexia S.A. in a securities class action suit that was ultimately settled.
• Represented a client defrauded in the purchase of various securities, and obtained return of the entire investment from defendant shortly after filing the complaint.
• Represented an investment advisor in litigation brought by a customer alleging fraud and unsuitability in a matter of first impression under various aspects of the Massachusetts Securities Laws.
• Represented online lending platforms in litigation, including litigation involving state usury laws, and the “true lender” doctrine.

Other Significant Litigation Experience

• Obtained dismissal of all claims at the pleadings stage in False Claims Act case brought against a large, regional pharmaceutical chain.  U.S. et al., Ex Rel. Thulin v. Shopko Stores Operating Company, LLC, No. 10-cv-196-WMC (W.D. Wis.).  Successfully represented the client on appeal with the appeals court affirming the dismissal of all of the claims against the client.  Thulin v. Shopko Stores Operating Company, LLC, No. 13-3638 (7th Cir. Nov. 12, 2014).
• Obtained a complete dismissal of a $360 million class action lawsuit alleging violations of RICO and the laws of over 25 states brought against one of the nation’s leading laboratories.  International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 456 Health and Welfare Trust Fund v. Quest Diagnostics Inc., Civil Action Not. 10-CV-1692 (E.D.N.Y.).
• Represented insurance agency in a data breach case.  Obtained dismissal of all claims at the pleadings and summary judgment stages; after one claim was restored on appeal, negotiated a favorable settlement on behalf of the client a week before trial.
• Served as trial counsel for a real estate broker seeking to recover its commission in connection with brokering the sale of a multi-million dollar multi-unit apartment and condominium development.  Achieved a settlement for nearly the entire amount of claimed damages after just a couple of days of trial.
• Represented a company and its majority owner against a minority investor alleging fraud, and seeking a larger equity stake in the company.  Successfully obtained dismissal at the pleadings stage of certain claims, and then settled the remaining claims on favorable terms.

Internal Investigations

• Represented the audit committee of a public company that manufactured and sold medical devices in an internal investigation of various accounting issues, and led the investigation of the company’s Brazilian subsidiary.
• Represented the board of a private company in conducting an internal investigation into allegations of misconduct by the company’s CEO.
• Conducted an internal investigation into allegations of scientific fraud at a public company that were raised by a former employee and purported whistle-blower.

Regulatory Investigations

• Represented a CEO of an acoustics company in an SEC investigation.  Prepared a successful “Wells” submission on behalf of the client that resulted in no charges being brought against the client.
• Represented a registered investment advisor in SEC investigation alleging breach of fiduciary duty with respect to a client account.  Persuaded the SEC not to bring charges through a “Wells” submission.
• Represented the CFO and controller of a company in an SEC investigation relating to an allegedly false registration statement for an IPO.  Clients were not charged by the SEC.
• Represented company in an SEC investigation involving the authorization of allegedly false confirmations issued by a retailer.  The SEC did not bring charges against the client.
• Represented director of company in the Cleantech industry in an SEC investigation.  No charges were brought against the client.
• Represented broker-dealer in SEC and DOJ investigations into the Petters Ponzi scheme.  No charges were brought against client.
• Represented portfolio manager of a major financial institution in an SEC investigation involving exposure to auction rate securities.  No charges were brought against client.
• Represented the former CFO of a public company in an SEC and DOJ investigation, and helped the client avoid a criminal indictment, and negotiated a favorable SEC settlement on his behalf.
• Represented the former CFO of a public company in an SEC investigation into stock options backdating, and helped the client avoid criminal charges while settling the SEC action. 
• Represented the former officer of a mutual fund adviser in an SEC investigation involving market timing, and negotiated a settlement that allowed the officer to remain in the industry.
• Represented a major investment bank in investigation by Massachusetts Securities Division with respect to its role in a merger of public company based in Massachusetts.  Client was not charged by the Securities Division.
• Represented an investment advisor in a proceeding before the Massachusetts Securities Division involving registration issues, and negotiated a favorable settlement.
• Represented the distributor of variable annuities in investigations by the SEC and Massachusetts Securities Division, and helped negotiate a favorable global settlement.
• Represented broker-dealer and registered representative in Massachusetts Securities Division investigation and NASD arbitration brought by a customer alleging unsuitable investments.  The Massachusetts Securities Division did not bring charges against the client, and the NASD arbitration was settled without any payment by the registered representative.
• Led investigation for the Audit Committee of a leading medical device company into financial reporting, regulatory compliance issues, and allegedly corrupt practices in business units on four continents. Supervised accounting restatement of distributor transactions and reserves over several reporting years.
• Favorably settled a dispute arising out of undue influence and other trust and estate related issues between family members.
• Won a complete dismissal of a $360 million class action lawsuit alleging violations of RICO and the laws of over 25 states brought against one of the nation’s leading laboratories.
• Represented a digital solutions company in connection with noncompete related employment disputes with its former employees and its competitor. Mintz successfully acquired first a temporary restraining order and then a preliminary injunction order to enforce the confidentiality, nonsolicitation, and noncompetition provisions in the employee agreements those employees had entered with the company.