Representing commercial and investment banks and venture capitalists, as well as institutional trustees and fiduciaries associated with trusts, estates, foundations and ERISA plans, Waller Lansden has developed a national reputation for work in financial services litigation.
We have successfully defended clients in lender liability cases in state and federal courts, class actions based upon claims of discriminatory lending practices and claims alleging violations of the Sherman anti-trust laws and the Bank Holding Company Act. Waller Lansden has represented companies as well as individual directors and special litigation committees in shareholder derivative litigation. We also have represented corporate insiders in cases alleging improper trading activity.
In probate, trust and estate matters, we have extensive experience representing fiduciaries accused of breach of trust including abuse of investment discretion. We routinely represent individuals, charities and institutions in cases involving will contests, trust construction, fraudulent transfer issues, guardianships and conservatorships. Waller Lansden was engaged to represent the State of Tennessee as the statutory representative of charitable beneficiaries in a high profile case involving a private foundation with assets in excess of $100 million. Recent examples of successful representations include:
- Defending a bank accused of negligence in connection with payment of the generation skipping transfer tax by trust beneficiaries
- Defending a bank accused of wrongful conduct in connection with the financing of a residential real estate development
- Resolving without resort to litigation complaints by trust beneficiaries regarding the disposition of real estate assets
- Representing a decedents estate in connection with three wrongful death suits arising from an aircraft accident
- Defending a bank in multiple lawsuits seeking certification of nationwide class actions
In the area of securities litigation, we have successfully defended clients in claims brought by individual stock purchasers as well as in enforcement proceedings before the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Securities Division of the Tennessee Department of Commerce, the New York Stock Exchange and the NASD. Our attorneys have successfully tried jury and bench trials involving securities claims and have acted as lead counsel for securities litigation in United States District Courts throughout the country and in numerous state courts. We have successfully handled dozens of broker/dealer matters arising in the context of various customer disputes including, but not limited to, claims alleging churning of accounts and unsuitable investment advice.
