Eric Lawson is a partner in Morrison Foerster’s Litigation Department and a member of the firm’s Securities Litigation and Commercial Litigation groups. Eric regularly defends clients in securities and shareholder litigation, complex commercial litigation, and other high-stakes litigation matters. He has experience representing clients in state and federal trial and appellate courts throughout the country.

Prior to joining MoFo, Eric worked at another AmLaw 50 law firm and completed a secondment as an assistant district attorney for New York’s Kings County District Attorney’s Office. He also previously served as a law clerk to Chief Judge Carl E. Stewart of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

Eric earned his B.A. in economics from Tufts University and his J.D. from the New York University School of Law. While in law school, he was the senior executive editor of the Journal of Law and Liberty.

Representative Experience

• Represented a syndicate of investment banks in a securities class action relating to tens of billions of dollars of securities offerings conducted in connection with the merger of two of the world’s largest petroleum companies. Successfully obtained dismissal with prejudice.

• Represented a corporate executive of a multinational flavors, fragrances, and cosmetics company in a securities class action relating to allegations that the company participated in a multimillion-dollar bribery scheme. Successfully obtained dismissal with prejudice.

• Represented an investment bank in litigation across multiple jurisdictions against claims of fraud and breach of fiduciary duty, stemming from its investment banking services for a fish-farming company. Successfully obtained dismissal with prejudice, which was affirmed on appeal.

• Represented an investment bank against civil RICO claims arising out of the bank’s alleged involvement in a debt swap for securities with a commercial marijuana business. Successfully obtained dismissal with prejudice.

• Represented a leading information technology solutions company and certain of its current and former directors and officers in shareholder derivative actions in federal and state court in New Jersey, a securities class action in federal court in New Jersey, and various shareholder demands in the Delaware Court of Chancery resulting from the company’s announcement of an internal investigation into potential violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) in India.

• Represented a sustainable biotechnology company in a securities class action challenging various disclosures relating to the company’s operations. The case settled on very favorable terms.

• Represented a hedge fund using algorithmic trading strategies in an investigation into market manipulation brought by the SEC.

• Represented a UK-based trader in connection with an antitrust class action relating to supranational, sovereign, and agency (SSA) bond trading. Successfully obtained dismissal, which was affirmed by the Second Circuit on appeal.

• Represented a former analyst of a leading financial institution against allegations of conspiracy, insider trading, and wire fraud charges. Won a rare defense victory in insider trading cases.

Eric also has experience in appellate matters and maintains a robust pro bono practice. Some examples of his work include:

• Serving as lead counsel for the Kings County District Attorney’s Office in briefing and arguing a criminal appeal before New York’s Appellate Division, Second Department. Successfully secured the appellant’s top-line convictions for murder, attempted murder, and first-degree burglary.

• Co-authoring the briefing and serving as second-chair in a case before the U.S. Supreme Court concerning the proper interpretation of the Prison Litigation Reform Act.

• Co-authoring numerous briefs at the certiorari stage in the U.S. Supreme Court.

• Co-authoring a brief in the Second Circuit challenging a district court’s revocation of a pro bono client’s in forma pauperis status. Successfully obtained reversal of the district court’s order.

• On a pro bono basis, successfully challenging under the First Amendment a city’s ban on charitable solicitation in public.