Philip T. Besirof
Philip Besirof is General Counsel to Morrison Foerster and serves on the firm’s leadership team. As the firm’s principal lawyer, Philip leads the firm’s global legal strategy and oversees all legal matters affecting the firm. He advises firm leadership and attorneys at all levels on governance, policy development, data security, litigation, investigations, insurance, and ethics issues. Philip serves on the firm’s Executive Committee and Board of Directors, ex officio, and he chairs the Risk Management Committee.
As head of the Office of the General Counsel, Philip leads a team of professionals dedicated to mitigating legal and operational risks, monitoring compliance with regulatory requirements, and fostering a culture of integrity and ethics within the firm.
As a partner in our Securities Litigation group, Philip is a go-to advisor for companies and their directors and officers in the areas of securities class actions, shareholder derivative suits, and regulator inquiries and investigations. Philip has a long track record of securing successful outcomes, including winning at trial, winning at the pleading stage and on summary judgment, and prevailing on appeal.
Philip’s clients represent a broad range of industries, including:
- computer hardware
- consumer products
- energy
- financial services
- gaming
- technology
- telecommunications
- pharmaceutical distribution
He has successfully defended dozens of firms and individuals, including Capital One, Infineon, JDSU, McKesson, Oracle, UPS, and Zynga and its former executives, where he contributed to the complete defense verdict in a securities class action jury trial seeking $20 billion in damages for alleged securities fraud and insider trading.
Philip is admitted to practice in the U.S. District Courts for the Central, Eastern, Northern, and Southern Districts of California and the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Ninth and Federal Circuits.
Philip is on the Board of the SF SPCA, a nonprofit organization that protects animals, provides care, and advocates for their welfare. He is the past Chair of the Board of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, a nonprofit organization that promotes health, wellness, and social justice for communities most impacted by HIV.
Experience
In re Zynga Securities Litigation
Represented Zynga Inc. and its directors and officers in a federal securities class action, a state class action, and various derivative actions pending in California and Delaware.
In re Capital One Derivative Litigation
Represented Capital One and its officers and directors in derivative litigation in the Eastern District of Virginia and Delaware Court of Chancery.
In re Countrywide Financial Corporation Securities Litigation
Represented former outside directors of Countrywide Financial Corp. in various securities class actions and shareholder derivative actions. Most of these actions have settled, with full releases of our clients, and in none of those cases did the firm’s clients pay any settlement.
In re First Solar Securities Litigation
Secured a victory for First Solar and its directors and officers in a federal securities class action pending in the District of Arizona when the three-judge panel unanimously upheld the dismissal of a shareholder derivative suit.
In re Oracle Securities Derivative Litigation
Represented Oracle Corporation in derivative actions and “books and records” actions in state and federal courts in California.
In re Infineon Securities Litigation
Obtained dismissal of 90 percent of the class (all foreign shareholders) and settled with the remaining 10 percent of the class (U.S. shareholders) for client Infineon and its officers.
In re JDSU Securities Litigation
Obtained a complete jury defense verdict on behalf of JDSU and three former executives in a class action seeking $20 billion for alleged securities fraud and insider trading.